Pigmented epithelial tumours of the conjunctiva

Two out of 60 conjunctival epithelial tumours reviewed between 1973 and 1989 were found to be pigmented. One tumour was a pigmented papilloma and the other a pigmented squamous cell carcinoma. The melanin pigment was found in epithelial tumour cells as well as in macrophages, dendritic melanocytes, and Langerhans cells. The distinction between the latter two types of cells was possible in one of the tumours only. Both tumours were found in dark-skinned white patients without any evidence of conjunctival acquired melanosis.