Fluid state of malignant choroidal melanoma growth presenting as exudative retinal detachment.

The extension of a malignant choroidal melanoma of an epithelioid cell type all through the subretinal space exhibiting a change of its solid state with its own stroma and blood supply in the choroid into a fluid growth phase resembling a tissue culture in the subretinal space is demonstrated in this case. This fluid state is represented by free-floating malignant melanoma cells living without their own stroma or direct blood supply in subretinal exudate. The transitional interface between the solid and fluid neoplastic states of this choroidal melanoma is demonstrated. The development of the fluid state indicates a potential of choroidal melanomas for isolation and survival of its cells without stroma and is related to the process of regional seeding and metastatic dispersion.