MAY 07, 2018
Conjunctival Pigmented Lesions: Planning Your Approach
1-Minute Video
01:52
Conjunctiva, Ocular Pathology/Oncology
Pigmented lesions on the surface of the eye typically fall into one of three categories: conjunctival nevus, primary acquired melanosis or conjunctival melanoma. Nevi usually occur with cysts in young patients and can be monitored without treatment, as they carry a low risk of transformation into melanoma. Primary acquired melanosis often occurs without cysts in patients between 30 and 40 years of age, carries a 10% to 30% risk of melanoma and should be resected if greater than 2 clock hours. Conjunctival melanoma, by contrast, carries a 25% risk of metastasis – even higher if it arises de novo, rather than from nevi or primary acquired melanosis – and should be resected with dry technique using no-touch surgery for complete removal of the entire tumor.
Don't miss these other 1-Minute Videos by Dr. Shields:
Squamous Neoplasia: Surgery vs. Topical Chemotherapy
Choroidal Nevus: When to Suspect Melanoma
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