G E Pacheco1, L Garcia-Onrubia2, C Garcia-Alvarez2, M F Muñoz3, E Garcia-Lagarto4, D M Perez5, P Alonso5, M A Saornil2. 1. Unidad de Tumores del Adulto, Servicio de Oftalmología, Hospital Clínico Universitario de Valladolid, Valladolid, España. Electronic address: gabriela.26391@gmail.com. 2. Unidad de Tumores del Adulto, Servicio de Oftalmología, Hospital Clínico Universitario de Valladolid, Valladolid, España. 3. Unidad de Tumores del Adulto, Unidad de Investigación, Hospital Clínico Universitario de Valladolid, Valladolid, España. 4. Servicio de Patología, Hospital Clínico Universitario de Valladolid, Valladolid, España. 5. Servicio de Oncología Radioterápica, Hospital Clínico Universitario de Valladolid, Valladolid, España.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the present study is to describe the clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients diagnosed and treated for conjunctival melanoma in the Ocular Oncology Unit of the University Hospital Clinic of Valladolid. METHODS: A retrospective observational case series study was conducted on patients diagnosed with conjunctival melanoma in the Ocular Oncology Unit of University Hospital Clinic of Valladolid, from January 1992 to December 2017. Demographic information and tumour features were recorded in a Microsoft Access database. RESULTS: Among a total of 462 consecutive patients, the tumour was classified as melanocytic in 252 cases (54.5%), with 27 patients having the pathological diagnosis of conjunctival melanoma. The mean age at diagnosis was 59.2years (16-88), and there were 41% males and 59% females, with a mean follow-up of 6.1±6.8years. As regards the origin of conjunctival melanoma, 16 cases (59%) arose from primary acquired melanosis, 26% from nevus, and 15% developed de novo. The treatment performed was incisional or excisional biopsy in all patients, local adjuvant chemotherapy in 15 cases (56%) and brachytherapy in 5 patients (18%). The median survival was 18years and the probability of survival at 5 and 10years was 89% and 69%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Conjunctival melanoma is a rare disease, usually undervalued by the patient as well as being underdiagnosed, leading to insufficient and delayed treatment. Early diagnosis and treatment are essential to prevent recurrences and systemic extension, as well as to preserve vision and life.
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the present study is to describe the clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients diagnosed and treated for conjunctival melanoma in the Ocular Oncology Unit of the University Hospital Clinic of Valladolid. METHODS: A retrospective observational case series study was conducted on patients diagnosed with conjunctival melanoma in the Ocular Oncology Unit of University Hospital Clinic of Valladolid, from January 1992 to December 2017. Demographic information and tumour features were recorded in a Microsoft Access database. RESULTS: Among a total of 462 consecutive patients, the tumour was classified as melanocytic in 252 cases (54.5%), with 27 patients having the pathological diagnosis of conjunctival melanoma. The mean age at diagnosis was 59.2years (16-88), and there were 41% males and 59% females, with a mean follow-up of 6.1±6.8years. As regards the origin of conjunctival melanoma, 16 cases (59%) arose from primary acquired melanosis, 26% from nevus, and 15% developed de novo. The treatment performed was incisional or excisional biopsy in all patients, local adjuvant chemotherapy in 15 cases (56%) and brachytherapy in 5 patients (18%). The median survival was 18years and the probability of survival at 5 and 10years was 89% and 69%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS:Conjunctival melanoma is a rare disease, usually undervalued by the patient as well as being underdiagnosed, leading to insufficient and delayed treatment. Early diagnosis and treatment are essential to prevent recurrences and systemic extension, as well as to preserve vision and life.
Authors: Puneet Jain; Paul T Finger; Maria Fili; Bertil Damato; Sarah E Coupland; Heinrich Heimann; Nihal Kenawy; Niels J Brouwer; Marina Marinkovic; Sjoerd G Van Duinen; Jean Pierre Caujolle; Celia Maschi; Stefan Seregard; David Pelayes; Martin Folgar; Yacoub A Yousef; Hatem Krema; Brenda Gallie; Alberto Calle-Vasquez Journal: Br J Ophthalmol Date: 2020-09-05 Impact factor: 4.638