Conjunctival pigmented epithelioid melanocytoma
a case report
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.70313/2718.7446.v18.n3.437Keywords:
conjunctiva, pigmented epithelioid melanocytoma, magnocellular nevus, ocular surface tumor, corneaAbstract
Objective: To present a clinical case of conjunctival pigmented epithelioid melanocytoma and its therapeutic management with surgery and topical mitomycin C.
Case report: A 65-year-old female presented with accelerated growth of a pre-existing solid lesion in the right eye. Clinical examination revealed a pigmented conjunctival mass invading the corneal area, measuring 7.5 mm. After evaluation with ultrasound biomicroscopy, an excisional biopsy was performed using the no-touch technique, followed by four postoperative cycles of topical mitomycin C 0.04% applied every 6 hours for 7 days, with one-week rest intervals. Histopathological and immunohistochemical analysis confirmed pigmented epithelioid melanocytoma, an extremely rare condition in the ocular conjunctiva, with very few cases previously reported in the literature. At 5 months of ophthalmological and oncological follow-up, no recurrence was observed, and visual function remained preserved, with close monitoring maintained.
Conclusion: We describe a rare case of conjunctival pigmented epithelioid melanocytoma that was successfully treated and controlled locally. Additional cases will be necessary to further evaluate the potential role of adjuvant therapies such as topical mitomycin C.
Downloads
References
1. Christy MC, Honavar SG, Mulay K, Talloju SS. Pigmented lesions of the conjunctiva: the sheep and the wolf. Indian J Ophthalmol 2023; 71(7): 2927. doi: 10.4103/IJO.IJO_1367_23.
2. Yeh I. Melanocytic naevi, melanocytomas and emerging concepts. Pathology 2023; 55(2): 178-186. doi: 10.1016/j.pathol.2022.12.341.
3. Gallego-Pinazo R, Dolz-Marco R, Vila-Arteaga J, Marí Cotino JF, España-Gregori E. Optic nerve melanocytoma. Arch Soc Esp Oftalmol 2016; 91(9): e83. doi: 10.1016/j.oftal.2016.05.014.
4. Zembowicz A, Carney JA, Mihm MC. Pigmented epithelioid melanocytoma: a low-grade melanocytic tumor with metastatic potential indistinguishable from animal-type melanoma and epithelioid blue nevus. Am J Surg Pathol 2004; 28(1): 31-40. doi: 10.1097/00000478-200401000-00002. (Errata corregida en: Am J Surg Pathol 2004; 28(5): 697.
5. Verdaguer J, Valenzuela H, Strozzi L. Melanocytoma of the conjunctiva. Arch Ophthalmol 1974; 91(5): 363-366. doi: 10.1001/archopht.1974.03900060375005.
6. Bissig A, Moulin A, Spahn B, Zembowicz A, Schalenbourg A. Conjunctival pigmented epithelioid melanocytoma: a clinicopathological case report. Arch Ophthalmol 2012; 130(11): 1478-1479. doi: 10.1001/archophthalmol.2012.1476.
7. Herwig-Carl MC, Loeffler KU, Grossniklaus HE. Melanocytoma of the conjunctiva: clinicopathologic features of three cases. Ocul Oncol Pathol 2019; 5(4): 290-297. doi: 10.1159/000496557.
8. Cohen VML, O’Day RF. Management issues in conjunctival tumours: conjunctival melanoma and primary acquired melanosis. Ophthalmol Ther 2019; 8(4): 501-510. doi: 10.1007/s40123-019-00219-8.
9. Huerva V, Vilardell F, Cid-Bertomeu P. Cryotherapy after topical interferon alpha 2b to treat conjunctival primary acquired melanosis. Case Rep Ophthalmol 2023; 14(1): 111-114. doi: 10.1159/000529667.
10. Rodríguez-Ares T, Touriño R, De Rojas V, Becerra E, Capeans C. Topical mitomycin C in the treatment of pigmented conjunctival lesions. Cornea 2003; 22(2): 114-117. doi: 10.1097/00003226-200303000-00006.
11. Chaparro Tapias TA, Díaz Díaz AL, Secondi R, Coy Villamil H, Sánchez España JC. Resolution of conjunctival melanoma with topical interferon alpha 2b in a patient with mitomycin C intolerance. Arch Soc Esp Oftalmol (Engl Ed) 2018; 93(11): 558-561. doi: 10.1016/j.oftal.2018.06.008.
12. Ditta LC, Shildkrot Y, Wilson MW. Outcomes in 15 patients with conjunctival melanoma treated with adjuvant topical mitomycin C: complications and recurrences. Ophthalmology 2011; 118(9): 1754-1759. doi: 10.1016/j.ophtha.2011.01.060.
13. Lichtinger A, Pe’er J, Frucht-Pery J, Solomon A. Limbal stem cell deficiency after topical mitomycin C therapy for primary acquired melanosis with atypia. Ophthalmology 2010; 117(3): 431-437. doi: 10.1016/j.ophtha.2009.07.032.
14. Alvarado-Castillo B, Santa Cruz-Pavlovich FJ, Gonzalez-Castillo C, Vidal-Paredes IA, Garcia-Benavides L, Rosales-Gradilla ME, Navarro-Partida J. Safety and efficacy of topical interferon alpha 2B and mitomycin C for localized conjunctival intraepithelial neoplasia: long-term report of their pharmacological safety and efficacy. BMC Ophthalmol 2023; 23(1): 335. doi: 10.1186/s12886-023-03092-z.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Consejo Argentino de Oftalmología

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Con esta licencia no se permite un uso comercial de la obra original, ni la generación de obras derivadas. Las licencias Creative Commons permiten a los autores compartir y liberar sus obras en forma legal y segura.