[Adenoma of the pigmented ciliary epithelium (author's transl)].

A solid adenoma of the pigmented ciliary epithelium was removed by 9.0 X 6.0 mm "block-excision" (postoperative visual acuity 1.0). The black lesion with a velvety surface consists of very large cells packed with melanin granules of abnormal and variable density, structure and size. Striking intracellular vacuoles contain acid mucopolysaccharides, particularly sialomucins. The literature on tumors of the pigmented ciliary epithelium is reviewed. Criteria for the separation of adenomas for adeno- "carcinomas" (8 cases, all without metastases) from reactive hyperplasia (6 cases) are proposed. The histologic, histochemical and electronmicroscopic findings of our tumor show striking similarities to those of an adenoma of the retinal pigment epithelium.