Marsupialized fungal mycetoma masquerading as conjunctival melanoma

Cornea. 2014 Jul;33(7):744-6. doi: 10.1097/ICO.0000000000000146.

Abstract

Purpose: To report a case of a fungal mass misdiagnosed as a pigmented conjunctival melanoma.

Method: Case report.

Result: A 38-year-old woman was referred for a pigmented conjunctival lesion that was diagnosed as a melanoma. She had a history of a scleral buckle in that eye for retinal detachment 2 years before presentation. Slit-lamp examination revealed a pigmented mass from the 11- to 2-o'clock position. This was noted to be imbricated within the invagination of a conjunctival fold from the previous surgery. The mass was removed, cultured, and confirmed to be a fungal infection from Scytalidium sp.

Conclusions: Scleral buckles can cause folds in the conjunctiva, which can be foci for fungal infection.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antifungal Agents / therapeutic use
  • Ascomycota / isolation & purification*
  • Conjunctival Diseases / diagnosis*
  • Conjunctival Diseases / drug therapy
  • Conjunctival Diseases / microbiology
  • Conjunctival Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Contact Lenses / microbiology
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Eye Infections, Fungal / diagnosis*
  • Eye Infections, Fungal / drug therapy
  • Eye Infections, Fungal / microbiology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Melanoma / diagnosis*
  • Mycetoma / diagnosis*
  • Mycetoma / drug therapy
  • Mycetoma / microbiology
  • Natamycin / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Antifungal Agents
  • Natamycin