Sixty eight cases of histologically proved conjunctival melanoma were reviewed in order to determine the clinical factors that were predictive of local recurrence and distant metastasis. All patients were treated with surgical excision and most had supplemental cryotherapy. The mean follow up was 7.5 years. Histopathologically, the conjunctival melanoma arose from primary acquired melanosis in 56%, from naevus in 26%, and de novo in 18%. Of the 68 patients, 38 (56%) developed at least one local tumour recurrence and 22 (32%) developed more than one recurrence. The method of initial treatment and the eventual development of metastasis were the two parameters statistically associated with tumour recurrence. Those patients treated initially with tumour excision alone had a statistically significant higher recurrence rate than those treated initially with excision and supplemental cryotherapy (p = 0.001). Fourteen patients (21%) developed metastasis and the mean period between treatment and metastasis was 3.6 years. Twelve (18%) died from metastatic melanoma with a mean interval of 4.4 years from the time of initial surgery until death. The only clinical parameter that was statistically associated with distant metastasis was local tumour recurrence (p = 0.015). Based on these observations, the authors make recommendations regarding the treatment of conjunctival malignant melanoma. It appears that initial complete excision of the tumour with supplemental cryotherapy offers the patient the best chance of remaining free of recurrence and metastasis.

Adult↗

PubMed1993

Necrotic orbital melanoma arising de novo.

A 76-year-old man with compressive optic neuropathy secondary to a retrobulbar mass was managed by orbitotomy and removal of the mass. The lesion proved histopathologically to be an unusual orbital melanoma with massive central necrosis. There was no histopathological evidence of congenital melanocytosis. Dermatological and systemic evaluation before and after orbital surgery revealed no evidence of primary melanoma elsewhere. The patient developed hepatic metastasis 2 years after excision of the orbital tumour. It appears that the melanoma was a primary orbital tumour and not a metastatic melanoma from an occult primary lesion.

Aged↗

PubMed1993

Choroidal invasion of retinoblastoma: metastatic potential and clinical risk factors.

There is considerable debate about the significance of choroidal invasion of retinoblastoma with regard to metastatic disease. The charts of patients with retinoblastoma were reviewed over a 17 year period to determine the frequency of histopathological choroidal invasion of retinoblastoma and its risk for eventual metastatic disease. Sixty seven of 289 eyes (23%) enucleated for retinoblastoma had histopathological evidence of choroidal invasion. Those patients with choroidal invasion (with or without optic nerve invasion) were more likely to develop metastases than those without choroidal invasion (p = 0.0001). When considering those patients with isolated choroidal invasion of retinoblastoma, excluding those with associated optic nerve invasion, there was no significant risk but there was a trend towards the development of metastases (p = 0.10). The clinical factors found to be predictive for choroidal invasion from retinoblastoma from a univariate analysis included increased intraocular pressure (p = 0.04) and iris neovascularisation (p = 0.007) and, from a multivariate analysis, iris neovascularisation (p = 0.02). The histopathological factors statistically associated with choroidal invasion included the presence of optic nerve invasion (p = 0.002) and poorly differentiated retinoblastoma (p = 0.003). Factors not predictive for choroidal invasion included the age, race, and sex of the patient and the tumour laterality, inheritance, size, and growth pattern. Choroidal invasion of retinoblastoma is a risk for metastases, especially if it is associated with any degree of optic nerve invasion.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1993

Organ preservation: choroidal melanoma treated by brachytherapy techniques.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Brachytherapy↗

PubMed1993

Lack of complications of the hydroxyapatite orbital implant in 250 consecutive cases.

The coral-derived hydroxyapatite sphere is a popular, new integrated orbital implant designed to provide improved motility of the ocular prosthesis following enucleation. Although the implant has rapidly become widely used by ophthalmologists, there is little information available regarding the complications of this technique in a large series of cases. We report our results on our initial 250 consecutive cases of hydroxyapatite implantation for eyes enucleated primarily for intraocular neoplasms, with specific emphasis on the complication an their management. The reasons for enucleation included uveal melanoma (157 cases), retinoblastoma (70 cases), blind painful eye (22 cases), and intraocular medulloepithelioma (1 case). Prior treatment to the eye was performed before enucleation in 47 cases and included repair of ruptured globe (17 cases), plaque radiotherapy (18 cases), external beam radiotherapy (6 cases), and others (6 cases). During a mean of 23 months follow-up (range, 6 to 42 months), there have been no recognizable cases of orbital hemorrhage related to the implant and no cases of implant extrusion or implant migration. There was one case of presumed orbital infection (culture-negative) that resolved with intravenous antibiotics, and the implant was retained within the orbit. Other problems included conjunctival thinning in eight cases managed by observation and prosthesis adjustment and conjunctival erosion in four cases managed by combinations of scleral patch graft, conjunctival flap, and prosthesis adjustment. The conjunctival erosion was caused by a poorly fitting prosthesis in three cases and wound dehiscence in one case. The complication rate in eyes receiving prior radiotherapy or surgery was not increased. The hydroxyapatite integrated orbital implant is a well-tolerated motility implant without the high rate of extrusion and infection seen with other motility implants.

Adult↗