A rare case of conjunctival nevi involving the cornea

Ankit Gupta, Sachin Daigavane

PAMJ. 2023; 44:167. Published 12 Apr 2023 | doi:10.11604/pamj.2023.44.167.39067

Conjunctival melanocytic tumours comprise benign and malignant neoplasms. Nevi are congenital benign conjunctival melanocytic tumours. Primary acquired melanosis (PAM) can either be regarded as benign (PAM without atypia) or represent a precancerous lesion (PAM with atypia). In contrast, melanoma is, by definition, a malignant melanocytic tumour. This is a case of a 22-year-old female with a mass in her left eye (A). On slit lamp examination, the nevi were detected as shades of brown of size 5mm x 3mm located at the interpalpebral conjunctiva near the limbus involving the cornea at three oclock, separated by normal conjunctiva. Increased blood supply and adherence to the underlying sclera were noted (B). Nevi can change colour and size during adolescence, but if a change is seen in an adult, a suspicion for malignancy should be ruled out. The malignant transformation risk is 1%. Inspection of all ocular structures was done as multicentric lesions could be present. It was excised and submitted for a histopathological investigation that confirmed the diagnosis (C). There is a social stigma about conjunctival nevus as it is cosmetically appealing. Surgical excision with an amniotic membrane graft or mitomycin C or conjunctival autograft is the mode of treatment, though the corneal opacity cannot be reversed.
Corresponding author
Ankit Gupta, Department of Ophthalmology, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College and Acharya Vinoba Bhave Rural Hospital, Datta Meghe Institute of Higher Education and Research, Sawangi (M), Wardha, India (ankitguptatoyou@gmail.com)


The Pan African Medical Journal (ISSN: 1937-8688) is a subsidiary of the Pan African Medical Journal. The contents of this journal is intended exclusively for professionals in the medical, paramedical and public health and other health sectors.

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