Review

Conjunctival Melanocytic Tumors-New Developments

10.4274/tjo.60343

  • Hülya Gökmen Soysal

Received Date: 25.05.2014 Accepted Date: 17.07.2014 Turk J Ophthalmol 2014;44(1):15-21

Melanocytic lesions of the conjunctiva represent a wide spectrum of tumors that include benign, premalignant, and malignant tumors. There are many ongoing arguments about the definition, classification, and therapeutic options of the conjunctival melanocytic tumors with many different suggestions. Conjunctival nevi are the most common melanocytic tumors and their risk of malignant transformation is less than1%. Primary acquired melanosis (PAM) histopathologically includes various types of lesions from increased melanin pigmentation without melanocyte proliferation to melanoma in situ and is accepted as a clinical definition, so that a new classification is recommended which is based on more objective criteria than before. Although conjunctival melanoma is seen rarely, it is associated with a high mortality rate. Management of these tumors mainly involves surgery and adjuvant topical chemotherapy, cryotherapy, and radiation therapy that help improving the survival, however, new options are being investigated related to genetic and molecular researches.

Keywords: Conjunctiva, nevus, melanocytic, melanoma

Full Text (Turkish)