Metastatic Ocular Melanoma Presenting as a Heart-Compressing Mediastinal Mass

Michael Kiparakis; George Lazopoulos; Anastasios Koutsopoulos; Aikaterini Gavalaki; Emmanouil Kampitakis; George Chalkiadakis

doi:10.1016/j.athoracsur.2014.12.055

Metastatic Ocular Melanoma Presenting as a Heart-Compressing Mediastinal Mass

Ann Thorac Surg. 2015 Oct;100(4):1448-50. doi: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2014.12.055.

Authors

Michael Kiparakis¹, George Lazopoulos², Anastasios Koutsopoulos², Aikaterini Gavalaki², Emmanouil Kampitakis², George Chalkiadakis²

Affiliations

¹ Division of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University Hospital of Crete, Heraklion, Greece. Electronic address: dr.kiparakis@gmail.com.
² Division of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University Hospital of Crete, Heraklion, Greece.

PMID: 26434443
DOI: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2014.12.055

Abstract

Ocular malignant melanoma is characterized by an unpredictable course, and metastases may develop, after a long disease-free interval, anywhere in the body. The mediastinum, however, is a rare site of these metastases, and metastatic melanoma presenting as a large mediastinal mass is quite unusual. We report herein a peculiar case of a solitary, late metastasis of malignant ocular melanoma, manifesting as a sizable posterior mediastinal mass and presenting with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. Transthoracic echocardiography, computed tomography scan findings, and surgical treatment and pathologic examination are described.

Publication types

Case Reports

MeSH terms

Cardiac Tamponade / etiology*
Eye Neoplasms / pathology*
Humans
Male
Mediastinal Neoplasms / complications*
Mediastinal Neoplasms / secondary*
Melanoma / complications*
Melanoma / secondary*
Middle Aged