Conjunctival metastasis from a cutaneous melanoma as the initial sign of dissemination.
OBJECTIVE
We report a case in which a conjunctival metastasis from a cutaneous melanoma was the first sign of metastatic disease.


METHODS
An excisional biopsy of an amelanotic pedunculated conjunctival lesion in a 52-year-old man showed epithelioid melanoma.


RESULTS
Systemic examination showed widespread disseminated disease from a cutaneous melanoma that had been removed 3 1/2 years earlier. At that time, no signs of metastatic disease were detected. Despite chemotherapy, the patient died 6 weeks later.


CONCLUSIONS
Conjunctival metastasis from a cutaneous melanoma is a rare and ominous sign of widely disseminated disease.
Kwapiszeski
B R
BR
Department of Ophthalmology, Loyola University Chicago, USA.
Savitt
M L
ML
D001706:Biopsy; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000473:pathology; D003230:Conjunctival Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*