Conjunctival melanoma: survival analysis in twenty-two Mexican patients / Melanoma conjuntival: análise de sobrevivência em vinte e dois pacientes mexicanos

Purpose: To describe the cases of conjunctival melanoma (CM) and report the disease-free interval (DFI) and overall survival (OS). Methods: The charts of 22 patients who were admitted to two hospitals between 1985 and 2006 were reviewed for pertinent data, including demographics, site of involvement in the conjunctiva and sub-sites, surgical treatment, and adjuvant treatment. Results: There were 10 (45.45%) males and 12 (54.55%) females. Mean age was 52.3 years. In this group, 15 patients (68.1%) involved the bulbar conjunctiva, and 7 (31.9%) involved the palpebral conjunctiva. Of the 22 patients, 72.72% had a history of conjunctival melanosis. The average tumor size was 20.4 mm. Eight (36.36%) patients underwent orbital exenteration, 2 (9.06%) had enucleation, 5 (22.72%) had wide excision of the lesion followed by radiotherapy, 2 (9.06%) had orbital exenteration with neck dissection, and the remaining 5 patients (22.72%) were considered adequately treated only with wide excision. Eight (36.36%) patients received adjuvant treatment. Disease-free survival at 5 years was 51% and the overall survival at 5 and 10 years was 50% and 37%, respectively. Conclusion: Conjunctival melanoma is a rare entity. Tumor behavior is aggressive, and the optimal treatment is surgery with adjuvant therapy. .

Objetivo: Descrever o intervalo livre de doença (DFI) e sobrevida global (OS) de pacientes com melanoma conjuntival (CM). Método: Prontuários de 22 pacientes que foram internados em dois hospitais entre 1985 e 2006 foram revisados para dados pertinentes, incluindo dados demográficos, local de envolvimento na conjuntiva e outros locais de acometimento, tratamento cirúrgico e tratamento adjuvante. Resultados: Dez (45,45%) homens e 12 (54,55%) mulheres foram selecionados. A média de idade foi de 52,3 anos. Em 15 pacientes (68,1%) CM envolveu a conjuntiva bulbar, e em 7 (31,9%) envolveu a conjuntiva palpebral. Dos 22 pacientes, 72,72% tinham história de melanose conjuntival. O tamanho médio do tumor foi de 20,4 mm. Oito (36,36%) pacientes foram submetidos à exenteração orbital, 2 (9,06% ) à enucleação, 5 (22,72%) à ampla excisão da lesão seguida de radioterapia, 2 (9,06%) à exenteração orbital com esvaziamento cervical e os restantes 5 pacientes (22,72%) foram considerados adequadamente tratados apenas com excisão ampla. Oito (36,36%) pacientes receberam tratamento adjuvante. Sobrevida livre de doença em 5 anos foi de 51% e sobrevida global em 5 e 10 anos foi de 50% e 37%, respectivamente. Conclusão: Melanoma conjuntival é uma entidade rara. Comportamento do tumor é agressivo, e o melhor tratamento é a cirurgia com terapia adjuvante. .

Melanoma maligno conjuntival / Malignant melanoma of the conjunctiva

INTRODUÇÃO: Os tumores melanocíticos conjuntivais compreendem lesões que podem variar desde lesões benignas como os nevos conjuntivais, lesões pré-cancerosas como melanose adquirida primária com atipia até o melanoma maligno conjuntival. O reconhecimento das características clinicas destas lesões e seu diagnóstico preciso permitem o tratamento adequado, contribuindo para a redução da morbidade e mortalidade associados ao melanoma de conjuntiva. OBJETIVO: Revisão das características clinicas, diagnóstico e modalidades de tratamento clínico e cirúrgico das lesões precursoras (Nevos e melanose adquirida primária) e do maligno conjuntival. MÉTODOS: Revisão de literatura através de pesquisa no banco de dados MEDLINE, PUBMED, LILACS e SciELO no período de 1980 a 2011. As palavras-chave utilizadas, individualmente ou em conjunto, foram: "conjunctival melanoma", "primary acquired melanosis", "nevi", "treatment", "chemotherapy", "recurrence", "metastasis" e "mortality". RESULTADO: Características clínicas que permitem o diagnóstico do melanoma conjuntival e sua diferenciação de outras lesões pigmentadas conjuntivais foram consideradas. O estadiamento clínico e patológico, assim como modalidades de tratamento para o melanoma maligno foram revisadas. CONCLUSÕES: Pacientes portadores de lesões pigmentadas conjuntivais devem ser avaliados por um oftalmologista especialista. A história oftalmológica, a história familiar de melanoma, e características clínicas da lesão necessitam de cuidadosa avaliação, incluindo-se a determinação do risco de malignidade. A documentação fotográfica deve ser realizada. O tratamento clínico e planejamento cirúrgico devem ser baseados na suspeita clinica. A análise histopatológica por patologista experiente é fundamental para orientação do tratamento e para identificação de fatores prognósticos, principalmente em casos de doença maligna.

INTRODUCTION: Melanocytic tumors comprise a wide range of lesions. These lesions can be nevi, primary acquired melanosis with or without atypia or malignant as conjunctival melanoma. Early recognition of the clinical features allows precise diagnosis and adequate intervention, reducing the rates of metastatic disease and mortality associated with conjunctival melanoma. PURPOSE: To review clinical features, diagnosis, clinical and surgical treatment modalities of the different precursor pigmented lesions (Nevi and primary acquired melanosis) and malignant melanoma. METHODS: Literature review was performed accessing the database of MEDLINE, PUBMED, LILACS e SciELO between 1980 and 2011. The keywords used, individually or combined, were: conjunctival melanoma, primary acquired melanosis, nevi, treatment, chemotherapy, recurrence, metastasis e mortality. RESULTS: Relevant clinical information for the diagnosis of malignant melanoma and differentiation from other pigmented conjunctival lesions were accessed. Clinical and pathological features and different modalities of treatment for malignant melanoma have been reviewed. CONCLUSIONS: Patients presenting with a pigmented conjunctival lesion should be evaluated by an experienced ophthalmologist. Ocular history, family history of melanoma, and clinical features of the lesion need careful assessment and malignancy risk evaluation. Digital photo documentation should be performed. Clinical or surgical planning should be done based on the clinical suspicion. Careful histopathology analysis is required for treatment orientation and prognostic factors identification, mainly in cases of malignancy.

Clinical Follow-up of Conjunctival Malignant Melanoma

PURPOSE: To investigate the clinical features and course of conjunctival malignant melanoma in Korea. METHODS: The medical records of 15 patients, 5 males and 10 females, diagnosed with conjunctival malignant melanoma who had been treated at Severance Hospital from May 1991 to March 2004 were reviewed retrospectively. The clinical parameters of the patients, tumors, and treatment were analyzed for their relation to outcome measures. RESULTS: The mean age at the time of diagnosis was 53.4 years (+/-11.7 years). In all cases, the disease was unilateral and all patients had experienced at least one recurrence. Local lymph node metastasis was found in 3 patients (20%) and the mean time to metastasis was 3.5 years. Systemic metastasis was found in 6 patients (40%) and the mean time to metastasis was 9.3 years. There were 5 cases of tumor-related death (33.3%), 4 of which were attributed to systemic metastasis. The Kaplan-Meier estimates of cumulative survival rate were 90% at 30 months and 56.6% at 70 months. CONCLUSIONS: Although conjunctival malignant melanoma is a rare disease, it is life-threatening and complete tumor excision at an early stage is mandatory, as is additional therapy to prevent local recurrence and systemic metastasis.