[Varicose vein of the iris]

[Article in German]

Rohrbach JM, Eckstein A, Schuster I.

Universitats-Augenklinik, Tubingen.

A 56-year-old man presented with a pigmented iris nodule which showed prominent vessels and enlargement within 6 weeks. The tumour caused recurrent hyphemata. Differential diagnosis included a pigmented iris hemangioma and a malignant melanoma. A sectoriridectomy was performed. Histology revealed a stromal cavity filled with fibrin and abundant erythrocytes. A diagnosis of an iris varix was established. However, it has to be pointed out that the distinction between a varix of the iris and an iris hemangioma may be difficult not only clinically but also histologically, and that iris melanomas may produce hemangioma-like patterns.