Optic disk melanocytoma and juxtapapillary melanoma. Diagnosis and management

Abstract

SummaryThe two most important pigmented lesions of the optic disc include melanocytoma and melanoma. Melanocytoma is a benign nevus and a normal finding in some lower animals such as camels, crocodiles and snakes. It appeas as a dark brown‐black mass at the disc, often with disc atrophy and invasion of retina and choroid. Transformation to melanoma is rare. On the other hand, optic disc melanoma generally arises from a juxtapapillary choroidal melanoma and secondarily invades the nerve. There is usually subretinal fluid and overlying orange pigment in the choroidal portion. Of all uveal melanomas, less than one percent invade the nerve. Enucleation is usually necessary. Understanding the differences in these two tumors is importan