[Analysis of the long-term prognosis for conjunctival malignant melanomas in Japan].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the long-term prognosis for primary conjunctival malignant melanomas in Japan.


METHODS
We conducted a survey of 61 cases which had been reported in a 38-year period (1959 to 1996). We gathered information regarding the survival of patients, the post-operative follow-up period, the causes of death, and recurrences. Answers were obtained segarding 51 cases (84%). Detailed progress was identified in 23 of these cases. The survival rates were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method.


RESULTS
The survival rates were 95.1% after 1 year, 72.9% after 3 years, and 53.4% after 5 years. These values are relatively low compared with those reported in Europe and the United States.
Matsumoto
A
A
Department of Ophthalmology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Japan.
Inatomi
T
T
Kinoshita
S
S
Aoki
A
A
Asaeda
H
H
Ishida
N
N
Ito
T
T
Ueno
H
H
Kanamaru
T
T
Kitagawa
A
A
Kudo
T
T
Kohra
T
T
Kobayashi
T
T
Kobori
K
K
Komatsu
I
I
Komine
T
T
Satoh
K
K
Sakaue
H
H
Shiihara
Y
Y
Shimada
N
N
Shinmaru
T
T
Takayama
T
T
Takimoto
N
N
Tanaka
N
N
Watanabe
K
K
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003230:Conjunctival Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000401:mortality*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D015996:Survival Rate