MALIGNANT-MELANOMA OF THE CONJUNCTIVA - OCCURRENCE AND SURVIVAL FOLLOWING SURGERY AND RADIOTHERAPY IN A DANISH POPULATION

Purpose: To describe patient characteristics, risk of recurrence, and survival in patients with premalignant and malignant melanocytic lesio ns of the conjunctiva. Methods: In a retrospective study, 55 cases wit h a minimum follow-up of 10 years were reviewed. Results: The actuaria l 5- and 10-year survival rates were 86% (95% Cl: 76-96%) and 73% (95% Cl: 60-87%) respectively. The 5-year risk of local recurrence was 35% (95% Cl: 21-49%), and the 10-year risk was 43% (95% Cl: 28-58%). Prim ary acquired melanosis with atypia was the first manifestation in 13 c ases, malignant melanoma in 42 cases. No significant difference in sur vival and recurrence was found between the two groups or by gender, lo cation of primary lesion, histological characteristics, or extent of s urgical procedure. A minimum incidence of 0.052 cases a year per 100 0 00 in Denmark was calculated. Conclusion: The results are estimated to represent a nationwide sample of patients. No prognostic factors of s ignificance were identified.