Astrocytoma of the ciliary body

Abstract

Purpose: To report the occurrence of an astrocytoma of the ciliary body. Methods: The patient was evaluated by ophthalmoscopic examination (including color ultrasonography and ultrasound biomicroscopy) as well as operating therapy. Histopathology and immunocytochemical analysis were performed. Results: A 29-year-old woman was found to have a left ciliary body tumor. Color ultrasonography revealed a 12 × 10 mm size, a low-level echo boundary, and a bright echogenic band. Ultrasound biomicroscopy showed that the lesion was located in the superior temporal quadrant of the ciliary body and extended backward for 6 mm from the limbus. The tumor was carefully dissected free and completely removed via episcleral incision. Histopathology revealed a fibrillary astrocytoma. Staining for glial fibrillary acidic protein yielded positive results and neuron-specific enolase yielded negative results. Conclusions: We describe an astrocytoma of the ciliary body in a patient, which is an extremely rare ocular tumor. Histopathology and immunocytochemical analysis were required to establish the diagnosis. Copyright © 2008 S. Karger AG.