Abstract
Purpose: :
To identify and characterize all known cases of solid tumors metastatic to the conjunctiva.
Methods: :
Retrospective literature review. Case reports were coded for primary tumor, age, affected eye, location, treatment, and time to death following diagnosis.
Results: :
Forty cases were identified arising from eleven different primary tumors. Cutaneous melanoma was the most common followed by breast and lung cancer. Median age of presentation was 55 years. The median time between diagnosis of primary to conjunctival metastasis was 14 months with a median life expectancy of six months. Lesions were more commonly found on the bulbar conjunctiva. Treatment with excision, followed by external beam radiation therapy, resulted in the least recurrence.
Conclusions: :
Metastatic tumors to the conjunctiva are rare. They most frequently arise from cutaneous melanomas. Once present they represent a grave prognostic indicator for survival.
Keywords: conjunctiva • oncology • tumors