Corneal melanoma: report of three cases

We report three cases of corneal melanoma: two without conjunctival primary acquired melanosis or melanoma and one with a history of conjunctival melanoma.

Report of 3 cases with corneal melanoma and literature review.

Medical records of three patients with the diagnosis of corneal melanoma were reviewed. Total excisional biopsy with corneal epitheliectomy using 20% ethanol was performed. Postoperative topical chemotherapy with 0.04% mitomycin-C was used for 4 weeks as adjunctive therapy. The follow-up ranged from 13 months to 7 years. Each of the two patients experienced two recurrences. One was treated in a fashion similar to that of the initial tumor, and the other was treated by enucleation. None of the patients developed regional or distant metastasis.

Malignant melanoma can rarely occur on the cornea with no contiguous conjunctival component. Eye-conserving treatment should be attempted first. Recurrences may occur, and a close follow-up is necessary.