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Results of treatment of conjunctival melanoma in 61 consecutive patients
Author(s) -
POGRZEBIELSKI A,
BOGDALI A,
NAPORAKRAWIEC A,
ROMANOWSKADIXON B
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
acta ophthalmologica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.534
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1755-3768
pISSN - 1755-375X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1755-3768.2008.4462.x
Subject(s) - medicine , conjunctiva , melanoma , quadrant (abdomen) , nodular melanoma , surgery , metastasis , dermatology , pathology , cancer , cancer research
Purpose Analysis of patients with conjunctival melanoma. Methods Retrospective analysis of 61 consecutive patients with histopathologic diagnosis of conjunctival melanoma treated between 1991‐2007 at the Department of Ophthalmology and Ocular Oncology of Jagiellonian University in Krakow. There were 30 (49.2%) women and 31 (50.8%) men in mean age of 57.6 years (25‐89). Results The tumors involved in 29 cases right eye and in 32 cases left eye. 26 (42.6%) melanomas were located in temporal quadrant; 37 (60.6%) tumors involved limbus and 22 (36.1%) bulbar conjunctiva; in 2 (3.3%) patients tumors infiltrated tarsal conjunctiva. 53 tumors (86.9%) were pigmented, 5 (8.2%) ‐ amelanotic and 3 tumors (4.9%) ‐ mixed. In 59 (96.7%) patients the tumors were nodular and in 2 (3.3%) diffuse, superficial. In all cases surgical excision was performed and in 44 (73.13%) cases adjunctive Ru‐106 brachytherapy. In 20 (32.7%) cases recurrence of melanoma necessitating secondary treatment was observed. The mean time to recurrence was 24.65 months (2‐91). In 5 (8%) cases documented metastasis occurred. Among all patients 5 (8%) died because of metastatic disease, 3 because of other reasons. 6 cases were lost to follow‐up because they moved to other countries. Conclusion Conjunctival melanoma most commonly occurs in form of a melanocytic, nodular tumor localized in corneal limbus and bulbar conjunctiva. Local recurrence of the tumor may be expected despite the surgical excision combined with adjunctive therapies.