Adenoma of the non-pigmented ciliary epithelium: a rare intraocular tumor with unusual immunohistochemical findings

A case of adenoma of the non-pigmented ciliary epithelium with smooth muscle differentiation is reported. This uncommon ocular tumor affected a 36-year-old woman, and had caused decreased visual acuity and a total cataract. Ultrasound biomicroscopy disclosed an associated persistent hyperplasic primary vitreous (PHPV). Sectoral cyclectomy with removal of the mass and intracapsular cataract extraction were performed. The tumor was diffusely positive for vimentin, smooth muscle actin, NSE, and S-100, focally for CD68 and Melan-A, and was negative for desmin, EMA, HMB-45, and CD99. Occasional cells reacted for cytokeratin. The proliferation index, as assessed by Ki-67, was below 10%. The overlying non-neoplastic ciliary epithelium was positive for vimentin, NSE, and S-100. Myofilaments are not totally unexpected in ciliary adenomas; however, such a diffuse and strong positivity for smooth muscle actin, as in the present case, has only been observed in one case before, but should be considered in the differential diagnosis of these neoplasms.