Carol L. Shields

Current Concepts in the Management of Conjunctival Neoplasms

The most common conjunctival tumor is the nevus Conjunctival nevi can be pigmented or non-pigmented and often display cysts Conjunctival melanoma is rare but is slightly more common nowadays, similar to cutaneous melanoma Conjunctival melanoma can arise from a conjunctival nevus, conjunctival primary acquired melanosis, or de novo In the USA, squamous cell carcinoma most often occurs in elderly Caucasian males Topical chemotherapy is most useful for conjunctival squamous cell carcinoma or intraepithelial neoplasia and it is less effective for primary acquired melanosis. Topical chemotherapy is not effective for conjunctival melanoma Amelanotic melanoma and pagetoid invasion of eyelid sebaceous carcinoma can simulate conjunctival squamous cell carcinoma and differentiation histopathologically is important Lymphoid tumors tend to occur in the fornix of the conjunctiva and, if bilateral, strongly suggest the presence of systemic lymphoma