[Orbital metastases of melanoma of the choroid. Value of imaging].

Choroidal melanoma is characterized by an unpredictable clinical course, during which metastatic disease may occur after a prolonged disease-free interval. However, metastases to orbit are quite rare; there have been only 6 reported cases in the literature. We report well documented examples of metastases to the orbit from a melanoma of the choroïd first diagnosed 8 years earlier. MR imaging is accurate in determining the exact location of lesions and their nature owing to the paramagnetic properties of melanin.