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Conjunctival melanoma in Southwestern Nigeria: a case series and review of literature

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Abstract

Purpose

Conjunctival melanoma is a rare tumor worldwide and is extremely rare among black population. This study aims to report the demographics, clinical presentation, treatment, and outcome of patients seen in an indigenous black population in Southwestern Nigeria.

Methods

All patients histologically diagnosed with conjunctival melanoma and managed in the facility were reviewed. Their demographics, clinical presentation, treatment received, outcome of treatment, and histopathological features were analyzed.

Results

Six patients (males = 2) with a mean age of 49.8 years were managed over 11 years (range 25–75 years). The right eye was involved in three patients, while one patient had bilateral non-simultaneous tumor. All six patients presented with pigmented growth over the ocular surface of varying duration, confirmed as malignant melanoma at histopathology after an excision biopsy (two patients), incision biopsy (one patient), or orbital exenteration (three patients). One patient who had complete adjuvant treatment postoperatively remained alive and tumor-free at 7-year follow-up, one patient is presently on chemotherapy, one patient died while on admission, and the remaining three patients abandoned further postoperative treatment and defaulted from follow-up.

Conclusion

Conjunctival melanoma is a rare ocular malignancy in Southwestern Nigeria, and patients present with advanced disease with potential poor outcome.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ophthalmology, University College Hospital/University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria

    Oluyemi Fasina

  2. Department of Pathology, University College Hospital/University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria

    Olayiwola A. Oluwasola

Authors
  1. Oluyemi Fasina
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  2. Olayiwola A. Oluwasola
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Oluyemi Fasina.

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Ethical approval

All procedures performed in this study were in accordance with the 1964 Declaration of Helsinki and its later amendments.

Informed consent

Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in this study.

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Fasina, O., Oluwasola, O.A. Conjunctival melanoma in Southwestern Nigeria: a case series and review of literature. Int Ophthalmol 38, 1747–1752 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10792-017-0612-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10792-017-0612-5

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