Desmoplastic spindle-cell melanoma of the eyelid with orbital invasion.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the clinicopathologic features of a patient with a spindle-cell melanoma of the eyelid that exhibited orbital invasion.


METHODS
Case report.


RESULTS
A slowly enlarging mass developed in the eyelid of a 50-year-old woman. Excision of the mass showed desmoplastic spindle-cell melanoma. The tumor recurred in the orbit, and an exenteration was performed. A second recurrence 7 months later was treated with radiation therapy.


CONCLUSIONS
There is a continuum of spindle-cell to desmoplastic melanoma. The prognosis of patients with orbital invasion of melanoma is poor, and adjuvant treatment including radiation and chemotherapy has little benefit.
Dithmar
S
S
Department of Ophthalmology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
Meldrum
M L
ML
Murray
D R
DR
Grossniklaus
H E
HE
D001706:Biopsy; D005142:Eyelid Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D018332:Nevus, Epithelioid and Spindle Cell / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D017233:Orbit Evisceration; D009918:Orbital Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed