Uveal melanomas with optic nerve extension: Report of two cases diagnosed by transvitreal biopsy, one of them with a multicentric tumour

Purpose: To report two cases of invasive uveal melanomas, one of which show ed multifocality, Methods: Clinical examination, ultrasonography, colour Doppler analysis, cy tological and histopathological evaluations. Results: Transvitreal biopsy (case 1) or fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNA B) (case 2) revealed malignant melanomas in both patients, Light microscopy and immunohistochemical examinations substantiated the diagnosis of mixed cell type melanomas, In addition, one patient had a multifocal melanoma wit h papilloedema and colour Doppler findings suggestive of optic disc involve ment. Conclusion: Transvitreal biopsy for histology or cytology is a reliable pro cedure to obtain an accurate diagnosis without delay of a lesion adjacent t o the optic nerve head. In our two cases the biopsy findings led to enuclea tion.