An intracranial lesion discovered in a patient with recurrent conjunctival melanoma: a case report

Abstract

Conjunctival melanoma is an uncommon tumor of the ocular surface, representing only 1.6% of all non-cutaneous melanomas.1 Overall metastasis rates range from 14-27%, with 10-40% of which arising in the central nervous system (CNS).1,2 CNS involvement has shown to be the major cause of morbidity and mortality in these patients, with a median survival of between 2 and 10 months.2 Therefore, it is critical to follow these patients closely throughout their lifetime to monitor for disease recurrence. We present a unique case of a 65 year-old woman with a well-documented history of recurrent conjunctival melanoma after multiple excisions. Routine follow up imaging revealed a new intracranial lesion, which presented an interesting diagnostic challenge.

Keywords

• conjunctival melanoma
• metastasis
• intracranial tumor