What's new AAPOS 2008 - The Private Eye Clinic

ANTERIOR SEGMENT
Conjunctival Melanoma 3 Years after Radiation and Chemotherapy for
Retinoblastoma.
JPOS 2007; 44:300-302.
An 8-month old infant with advanced bilateral retinoblastoma was managed with
enucleation of the right eye and chemotherapy and radiotherapy of the left eye. Three
years after treatment, excisional biopsy of a non-pigmented mass in the anopthalmic
right socket demonstrated amelanotic melanoma of the conjunctiva with superficial
orbital invasion. No tumor recurrence has been noted in 20 months of follow-up.
Potential causes of this unusual occurrence are discussed including germline mutation
and the importance of systemic monitoring in patients with retinoblastoma.
Malignant Melanoma of the Conjunctiva in Children: An Review of the
International Literature 1965-2006.
JPOS 2007; 44:277-282.
Malignant melanoma of the conjunctiva is an uncommon but potentially life-threatening
ocular tumor which primarily affects white adults between the fourth and seventh
decades of life. Conjuctival melanoma is rare in children. A review of the literature
resulted in 28 reported cases in children younger than 15 years and only 8 had
adequate details noted. Conjunctival melanoma is approx-imately 18-40 times less
frequent than uveal melanoma. Conjunctival melanomas can evolve from melanocytic
nevi or primary aquired melanosis or they can arise de novo. Due to the rarity of
conjunctival melanoma in children, other more common diagnoses should be
considered in the work-up. . The small numbers provided in this review prevent
drawing conclusions with any confidence.
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