Background: Uveal melanoma is the most common primary intraocular malignancy in adults, often resulting in painless vision loss. We report a case of necrotic uveal melanoma presenting with orbital inflammation mimicking orbital cellulitis and present a comprehensive review of the literature and tabulation of reported cases.
Summary: Our review found 44 published reports of spontaneously necrotic uveal melanoma involving 55 patients. Of these reports, 26 patients (47%) presented with orbital cellulitis. Presenting symptoms of necrotic uveal melanoma with orbital cellulitis included proptosis (82.8%), pain (80.7%), vision loss (61.5%), and restricted extraocular movements (46.2%).
Key messages: Uveal melanoma can rarely mimic orbital cellulitis. Autoinfarction and tumor necrosis causes secondary orbital inflammation. Intraocular malignancy must remain in the differential for patients with orbital inflammation and vision loss.
Keywords: Necrotic uveal melanoma; Orbital cellulitis; Orbital inflammation; Spontaneous necrosis.
Copyright © 2021 by S. Karger AG, Basel.