2012/01/01 by Ana Nunes, Nunes, Ana Teresa, Leonor Almeida +5
Medicine · #610 Medical sciences #Cutaneous Melanoma Detection and Management #Medicine #Ocular Oncology and Treatments #Ocular and Laser Science Research #conjunctival melanoma #narrative medicine #oncology #treatment
paper · doi:10.3205/oc000009
openalex publication_date 2012/01/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/19
INTRODUCTION: Conjunctival melanoma is a relatively rare ocular malignancy with substantial associated morbidity and mortality. It can arise in previously unblemished and unpigmented regions (approximately 10% of cases), from a preexisting nevus (approximately 20% of cases), or from the flat, spreading pigmentation of primary acquired melanosis with atypia (60-70% of cases), actually called conjunctival melanocytic intraepithelial neoplasia (C-MIN) with atypia (histopathologically more accurately term). PURPOSE: The authors describe an extremely rare case of malignant conjunctival melanoma, with a long evolution, in a young black woman. RESULTS: Until now the patient has not shown any sign of relapse of this melanoma, after local excision. CONCLUSION: Conjunctival melanoma is a condition of concern because of its rarity and lethal potential. Advances in the understanding and management of this neoplasm have markedly reduced the mortality and possibly the morbidity associated with this malignancy. We observe that there are some cases of conjunctival melanoma that might be cured with only a local excision with posterior cryotherapy without more aggressive methods. The practice of narrative medicine brings new possibilities in the diagnosis and collection of classical history.