INTRAOCULAR T-CELL LYMPHOMA MIMICKING A RING MELANOMA - 1ST MANIFESTATION OF SYSTEMIC-DISEASE - REPORT OF A CASE AND SURVEY OF THE LITERATURE

A case is presented of an intraocular T-cell lymphoma mimicking a ring melanoma of the iris and being the first manifestation of systemic di sease. A 51-year-old woman was referred with an anterior uveitis, init ially presenting as a granulomatous iritis. Nodules had developed in t he circumference and the lesion now imitated a malignant melanoma of t he iris, which was also the diagnosis from a biopsy specimen with rout ine staining. Clinical, haematological and serologcial examination rev ealed no other symptoms or signs. Lymphocytic markers applied to the b iopsy specimen and to the enucleated eye revealed a highly malignant T -cell lymphoma infiltrating the iris, ciliary body, anterior choroid, retina and the adjacent vitreous body. Further examination later showe d T-cell lymphoma in the bone marrow, the only other organ involved. T he patient died a leukaemic phase about 1 year ter the first admission . Previous cases of T-cell lymphoma with ocular involvement are review ed.