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Malignant Melanoma of the Conjunctiva With Intraocular Extension
Hartmut Wenkel, MD;
Volker Rummelt, MD;
Gottfried O. H. Naumann, MD
Arch Ophthalmol. 2000;118:557-560.
ABSTRACT
Intraocular extension of a malignant melanoma of the conjunctiva is a rare entity. A 75-year-old woman underwent repeated surgery after receiving the diagnosis of a multilocular recurrent malignant melanoma arising from a primary acquired melanosis. Treatment included 2 lamellar sclerokeratectomies and percutaneous radiotherapy. Five years after initial surgery, intraocular extension of the melanoma was observed, and enucleation was performed. Findings from histopathological examination revealed a malignant melanoma occupying part of the ciliary body, the trabecular meshwork, and the iris. Eyes with recurrent malignant melanoma of the conjunctiva should be carefully monitored for intraocular extension. Deep excision of conjunctival melanoma, including lamellar sclerokeratectomy, may abolish the natural barrier against intraocular extension of malignant melanomas of the conjunctiva.
INTRODUCTION
Primary malignant melanomas of the conjunctiva arise from primary acquired melanosis (75%), melanocytic conjunctival nevi (20%-30%), or de novo.1-3 The overall tumor-related mortality rate is about 25%,1-2 and multilocular tumors especially tend to produce lymphatic metastasis.4 However, intraocular extension of a malignant melanoma of the conjunctiva is rare.5 We report a case of a 75-year-old woman with intraocular extension of a recurrent multilocular malignant melanoma of the conjunctiva.
REPORT OF A CASE
A 75-year-old woman was seen at the Department of Ophthalmology of the University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany. She had of a recurrent multilocular malignant melanoma of the conjunctiva of the left eye (Figure 1). The tumor originated from primary acquired melanosis and involved the limbal, caruncular, and forniceal conjunctiva. Since June 1989, 10 excisional biopsies (sometimes multiple) of conjunctival tumors (Figure 2) had been performed (8 at our institution; 2, elsewhere), including 2 lamellar sclerokeratectomies with full-thickness corneal transplants (February 1990 and October 1993) (Table 1). The deep histopathological margins appeared to be free of tumor cells in both specimens. Additionally, the patient received adjuvant percutaneous radiotherapy with a total radiation dosage of 175 Gy. In May 1994, the patient returned with a nonpigmented conjunctival tumor of the left eye and reported ocular inflammation for 4 weeks. Visual acuity was 20/200 OS, intraocular pressure measured 9 mm Hg, and there were pronounced dry-eye symptoms. On examination, we observed 2 slightly pigmented and prominent tumors of the conjunctiva next to the limbus at the 4- and 7-o'clock positions. The corneoscleral suture from the 4- to 7-o'clock position was tight, the transplant showed stromal vascularization, and the recipient cornea was clear. The anterior chamber was deep and showed light cellular infiltration with Tyndall phenomenon. There was iridal neovascularization originating from the chamber angle at the 6-o'clock position reaching to the pupillary margin. Gonioscopically, brownish-pigmented areas were seen inside the chamber angle from the 5- to 7-o'clock position (Figure 3). The lens showed a nuclear and cortical cataract, the retina was attached, the optic disc appeared normal, and there were some irregularities of the retinal pigment epithelium in the macular region. Because of the suspicion of a recurrent conjunctival malignant melanoma with intraocular extension, a modified enucleation was performed.
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Figure 1. Clinical photograph of the left eye (October 1991) after sclerokeratoplasty with multilocular recurrence of malignant melanoma of the conjunctiva at the 2- and 6-o'clock positions and from the 7- to 9-o'clock position.
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Figure 2. Histopathological appearance of conjunctival biopsy specimen (February 1990) with uniform-looking pigmented cells spread within the epithelium and the subepithelial tissue (hematoxylin-eosin, original magnification x480).
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Clinical and Histopathological Findings From Biopsy Specimens of Conjunctival Tumors*
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Figure 3. Gonioscopical photograph of the left eye (May 1994) showing the chamber angle from the 5- to 7-o'clock position with neovascularization on the iris surface and in the chamber angle, with brownish-pigmented areas inside the chamber angle.
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HISTOPATHOLOGICAL REPORT
Findings from histopathological evaluation revealed an intact conjunctival epithelium. Focally, the epithelium had areas of primary acquired melanosis with cellular atypia. In the subepithelial tissue, nests of slightly pigmented, uniform-looking tumor cells were surrounded by a chronic, nonspecific lymphoplasma-cellular infiltration. Nests of tumor cells were seen within the sclerocorneal graft as well as inside the underlying cornea, reaching almost to the middle of the cornea. The chamber angle showed neovascularization and was partly invaded by tumor cells growing on the corneal and iridal surfaces with invasion of iris and trabecular meshwork. The ciliary body was partially thickened with collateral retinal detachment. There was a diffuse invasion of the ciliary body by mainly epithelioid tumor cells (Figure 4). Single sections showed tumor cells in the scleral emissaria connecting the tumor cell masses inside the sclera and the cornea with the ciliary body (Figure 5). The choroid, attached retina, and optic nerve appeared normal. All different parts of the tumor of conjunctiva, cornea, sclera, and ciliary body expressed the same immunohistochemical-staining pattern (positive for S100 antigen and HMB-45 antigen) and showed polygonal nuclei, prominent nucleoli, and a small cytoplasmic rim.
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Figure 4. Histopathological section of the left eye showing diffuse infiltration of the ciliary body with uniform cells with infiltration of the chamber angle, the iris, the cornea, and the extraocular tissue (periodic acid-Schiff stain, original magnification x20).
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Figure 5. Magnification of the histopathological section of the enucleated eye showing nests of tumor cells in the extraocular tissue spreading through the sclera toward the ciliary body (periodic acid–Schiff stain, original magnification x240).
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COMMENT
Intraocular extension of a conjunctival malignant melanoma is an extremely rare entity.5 Much more frequently, uveal melanomas lead to pigmented epibulbar lesions by extraocular extension. Therefore, the coincidental finding of epibulbar and intraocular pigmented lesions in our patient primarily suggests a uveal melanoma with extraocular extension. The clinical and histopathological appearance of the ciliary body changes especially seemed to indicate a primary epithelioid malignant melanoma of the ciliary body (Figure 4). The presumed ciliary body tumor showed collateral retinal detachment and invasion of chamber angle, trabecular meshwork, iris, cornea, and sclera and, most likely, extraocular extension. Indeed, there is no way to directly prove whether the tumor in our patient was originating from the conjunctiva or the ciliary body because there is no method to differentiate between conjunctival or uveal melanocytes.
However, we present 6 arguments supporting our hypothesis of a primary conjunctival melanoma with intraocular extension. (1) Acquired melanosis with cellular atypia was seen inside the conjunctival epithelium in close relationship to the tumor. This finding is not consistent with an epibulbar growth originating from a primary intraocular tumor. (2) During a follow-up period of more than 5 years, malignant melanomas and epithelial changes were seen in almost all parts of the conjunctiva, including the plica, fornix, and caruncula far from the ciliary body tumor. (3) Pigmented lesions were also seen at the limbus (Figure 1), which is rarely seen in extraocular extension of uveal melanoma. (4) Despite multiple previous examinations, intraocular changes did not occur until the last time the patient was seen. (5) Looking at the histological sections, tumor cells were seen within a scleral emissaria connecting the tumor cell masses inside the sclera and the cornea with the tumor in the ciliary body. This seems to represent the pathway of intraocular invasion. (6) Finally, there was a clear immunohistochemical identification of a melanocytic tumor in contrast to other tumors more frequently invading the intraocular structures, such as a mucoepidermoid or a squamous cell carcinoma.6 S100 Antigen and HMB-45 antigen were detected in all parts of the tumor (within conjunctiva, sclera, cornea, anterior chamber, and ciliary body).
The appropriate treatment for conjunctival malignant melanomas is still controversial and not satisfactory, looking at the overall tumor-related mortality rate of more than 25%. Additionally, there are no exact data concerning the radiosensitivity of the conjunctival malignant melanoma and the advantages of an adjuvant radiotherapy.7 In our patient, local tumor control had been intended by multiple excisions of the tumor and adjuvant radiotherapy. Nevertheless, there was recurrent tumor growth with partially deep scleral and corneal extension. This extension of the tumor led to a deep excision by lamellar sclerokeratectomy. Despite treatment, tumor cells persisted deep inside the sclera and cornea underneath the transplant and were able to invade the eye. Compared with the technique published by Shields et al,8 the deep scleral extension of the tumor in our patient demanded deeper scleral incisions of 0.5 and 1.0 mm; therefore, a corneal graft was required for wound coverage. Perhaps the preceding limbal surgery with partial removal of the Bowman membrane in our patient reduced the natural barrier against intraocular tumor invasion, as discussed by Gow and Spencer.9 The case reported by Gow and Spencer also had intraocular extension of a conjunctival malignant melanoma after lamellar keratectomy and sclerectomy. This could indicate that the scleral and corneal barrier is normally resistant to penetration by an epibulbar malignant melanoma but may lose this function after lamellar surgery.
AUTHOR INFORMATION
Accepted for publication November 10, 1999.
Reprints: Hartmut Wenkel, MD, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Schwabachanlage 6, D-91054 Erlangen, Germany (e-mail: hartmut.wenkel{at}augen.imed.uni-erlangen.de).
From the Department of Ophthalmology, University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany.
REFERENCES
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6. Shields JA, Shields CL, Gunduz K, Eagle RC. Intraocular invasion of conjunctival squamous cell carcinomas in 5 patients. Ophthal Plast Reconstr Surg. 1999;15:153-160.
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8. Shields JA, Shields CL, DePotter P. Surgical management of conjunctival tumors. Arch Ophthalmol. 1997;115:808-815.
ABSTRACT
9. Gow JA, Spencer WH. Intraocular extension of an epibulbar malignant melanoma. Arch Ophthalmol. 1973;90:57-59.
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SECTION EDITOR: W. RICHARD GREEN, MD
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