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Ocular abnormalities associated with cutaneous melanoma and vitiligolike leukoderma

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Abstract

Several varieties of ocular pathology are associated with acquired cutaneous hypomelanosis (leukoderma; vitiligo). Our current study was undertaken to investigate the relationship between ophthalmologic disorders and a specific depigmentary phenomenon, the vitiligolike leukoderma of cutaneous melanoma. Over the past 14 years, eight patients with cutaneous melanoma and widespread areas of hypopigmentation were identified at the Pigmented Lesion Clinic of the Massachusetts General Hospital. The seven patients who underwent ophthalmologic examination had pigment-related ocular abnormalities. Among these were inflammations of the uveal tract in three patients, heterochromia in two, halo nevi of the choroid in one, and hypopigmentation and/or atrophy of the retinal pigment epithelium or choroid in four. Our findings demonstrate that ocular disease may be a component in a syndrome consisting also of cutaneous melanoma and vitiligolike leukoderma and suggest the need for complete ophthalmologic examinations in patients with melanoma and leukoderma.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

    M. A. Chang, G. Fournier & D. M. Albert

  2. Department of Dermatology, Dermatopathology, and Hematology-Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

    H. K. Koh, A. J. Sober, H. Nakagawa & T. B. Fitzpatrick

Authors
  1. M. A. Chang
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  2. G. Fournier
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  3. H. K. Koh
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  4. A. J. Sober
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  5. H. Nakagawa
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  6. T. B. Fitzpatrick
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  7. D. M. Albert
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Additional information

Work supported in part by NIH Grant EY01917

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Chang, M.A., Fournier, G., Koh, H.K. et al. Ocular abnormalities associated with cutaneous melanoma and vitiligolike leukoderma. Graefe's Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 224, 529–535 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02154741

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02154741

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