Two novel mutations of connexin genes in Chinese families with autosomal dominant congenital nuclear cataract

Bilateral naevus of Ota with choroidal melanoma and diffuse retinal pigmentation in a dark skinned person Naevus of Ota (naevus fusculocoeruleus ophthalmomaxillaris) was described by the Japanese dermatologist, Ota, in 1939 as a dermal melanocytic hamartoma that presents as bluish hyperpigmentation along the ophthalmic, maxillary, and mandibular branches of the trigeminal nerve.It is bilateral in less than 5% cases, occurring frequently in Orientals (0.2%-1%) and darker races and rarely in white people (0.04%).Open angle glaucomas and choroidal melanoma are the rare ocular involvements.Ota's naevus is more common in Asians than white people but uveal melanoma occurs predominantly in white populations. 1 2Dark skinned patients represent only 1% of all cases of orbital melanomas. 3 The risk of developing uveal melanoma in a patient with naevus of Ota is one in 400 patients in their lifetime. 1 2We report a rare case of bilateral naevus of Ota with a right (RE) choroidal melanoma and left (LE) diffuse pigmentation of retina. Case reportA 73 year old Anglo-Indian woman was referred with complaints of photopsia.She had black hair and light brown skin.Examination revealed a brownish-black pigmentation of the conjunctiva, episclera, and periocular skin bilaterally (fig 1).Visual acuity for distance and near was 6/6 and N5, respectively, in each eye.Heterochromia was present, the right iris being a darker brown than the left, which had a sector of light brown colour.Gonioscopy and intraocular pressure were normal.The right fundus revealed a pigmented, large, elevated choroidal mass 10 disc diameter (DD) in size, 4 DD superonasal to the disc.Drusen were overlying it.No subretinal fluid was seen.The left eye showed a patchy dark pigmentation 3 DD in size, at the temporal edge of the macula.A ridge-like pigmented elevation, 3 DD long, was also seen along the superonasal vessels.Both optic discs and maculas were normal.Ultrasound in the right eye showed a 10 mm tumour, 4.2 mm high.Fluorescein angiography confirmed its independent circulation.A systemic examination found no signs of metastasis.A diagnosis of a bilateral naevus of Ota with low grade, choroidal melanoma in the right eye (fig 2) and retinal pigmentation in the left eye was made.The patient was reluctant to accept the option of enucleation in view of the right vision.A 125 I radioactive plaque was applied (COMS study).A follow up examination 3 years postoperatively showed a flatter, yellow 4 DD61.5 DD scarred tumour with mottled pigmentation.The left melanosis remained unchanged.The vision was 6/6 in both eyes 6 years after 125 I treatment and cataract surgery.case illustrates the need for regular ophthalmic review of all pigmented lesions and the recognition that patients with naevus of Ota may also have the additional complication of melanoma.There is need for close observation of all pigmented lesions of the eye.Regardless of the patient's race, there is a greater than normal chance that a patient with the naevus of Ota might have a malignant melanoma develop within one of the affected tissues.