Clinicopathological findings in a growing optic nerve melanocytoma

Abstract

We present an unusual case of a melanocytoma of the optic disc that showed documented progressive growth over a period of six years. It reached the largest size of any reported optic nerve melanocytoma and the eye was enucleated because of the possibility of malignant degeneration. Optic nerve melanocytomas are locally invasive but are not known to undergo transformation into malignant melanoma. Follow-up should remain the primary approach in the management of patients with optic nerve melanocytomas, as previously advocated by Zimmerman.