Is conjunctival melanoma cancerous?

Is conjunctival melanoma cancerous?

Conjunctival malignant melanoma (CMM) is a rare but potentially life-threatening cancerous growth of the eye. It arises from melanocytes located amongst the basal cells of the conjunctival epithelium.

Is Primary acquired melanosis rare?

Typically, primary acquired melanosis is found in middle-aged whites; along with malignant melanomas, it is extremely rare in the younger population. The natural history of primary acquired melanosis begins with the development of superficial epithelial pigmentation, with a typical peppered distribution of pigment.

How common is eye melanoma?

Ocular melanoma is the most common primary cancer affecting the eye. However, it is a rare disorder and is estimated to be diagnosed in about 2,500 people in the United States each year. The incidence is unknown, but one estimate places it at about 5-6 people per every 1,000,000 people in the general population.

What are the symptoms of ocular melanoma?

When they do occur, signs and symptoms of eye melanoma can include:

• A sensation of flashes or specks of dust in your vision (floaters)
• A growing dark spot on the iris.
• A change in the shape of the dark circle (pupil) at the center of your eye.
• Poor or blurry vision in one eye.
• Loss of peripheral vision.

What is conjunctival Melanosis?

Conjunctival primary acquired melanosis (PAM) is a painless flat brown spot on the eye that might superficially look like a freckle. It changes very slowly over time. It can be found in children and adults and typically occurs on only one eye.

What is uveal melanoma?

Listen to pronunciation. (YOO-vee-ul MEH-luh-NOH-muh) A rare cancer that begins in the cells that make the dark-colored pigment, called melanin, in the uvea or uveal tract of the eye. The uvea is the middle layer of the wall of the eye and includes the iris, the ciliary body, and the choroid.

How is primary acquired melanosis treated?

The main treatment for PAM with atypia is surgery (surgical excision) with or without freezing therapy (cryotherapy) and Mitomycin C (MMC).

What is primary acquired melanosis with atypia?

Primary acquired melanosis (PAM) of the conjunctiva manifests as unilateral patchy areas of pigmentation usually in middle-aged or elderly patients. It can be differentiated histologically by the degree of atypia of melanocytes. Without atypia, PAM is a benign melanocytic proliferation.

Can you survive ocular melanoma?

The 5-year survival rate for eye melanoma is 82%. When melanoma does not spread outside the eye, the 5-year relative survival rate is about 85%. The 5-year survival rate for those with disease that has spread to surrounding tissues or organs and/or the regional lymph nodes is 71%.

How long does it take ocular melanoma to spread?

There is no known cause, though incidence is highest among people with lighter skin and blue eyes. Approximately 50% of patients with OM will develop metastases by 10 to 15 years after diagnosis (a small percentage of people will develop metastases even later i.e. 20-25 years after their initial diagnosis).

How aggressive is ocular melanoma?

This is an aggressive type of cancer that can potentially spread to other areas of the body, most often to the liver. Immediate treatment is often necessary. The approach depends on the size and placement of the tumor, and the stage at which it is found. The two most common treatments are radiation therapy and surgery.

Is there a clinical or pathologic stage for melanoma?

There are both clinical and pathologic staging systems for melanoma. Since most cancers are staged with the pathologic stage, we have included that staging system below. If your cancer has been clinically staged, it is best to talk to your doctor about your specific stage.

Can a child have a multicentric melanoma metastasis?

Be wary of diagnosis in children as it is very rare ( J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus 2007;44:277 ) Prognosis not related to nature of initial lesion, although acquired melanosis cases are often multicentric Metastases to parotid or submandibular lymph nodes, but uncommon if primary tumor less than 1.5 cm

How big is the tumor of melanoma in situ?

This stage is also known as melanoma in situ. The tumor is no more than 2mm (2/25 of an inch) thick and might or might not be ulcerated (T1 or T2a). The cancer has not spread to nearby lymph nodes (N0) or to distant parts of the body (M0)

Which is the best staging system for melanoma?

The staging system most often used for melanoma is the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) TNM system, which is based on 3 key pieces of information: The extent of the main (primary) tumor (T): How deep has the cancer grown into the skin?