Epidemiological and morphological data of ocular melanocytic lesions

Ocular melanocytic lesions comprise a spectrum of lesions ranging from benign nevi to invasive melanoma. Clinical and histopathological appearance of conjunctival lesions ranges from freckle to lentigo and to nevi. Between these types, conjunctival nevi and conjunctival melanosis are the most frequent. Conjunctival and uveal melanocytes are derived from the neural crest, as their cutaneous counterparts, whereas the pigment epithelial melanocytes are derived from the neuroepithelium or the layers of the optic cup. Melanomas can develop in one of several places within the eye, and can be divided in uveal melanomas and conjunctival melanomas. The purpose of the study was to investigate the epidemiological and morphological data of ocular melanocytic lesions, especially intraocular melanoma, through analysis of the ocular biopsies received in the Department of Pathology, Emergency City Hospital, Timisoara, Romania, for the period of five years. We did not observed any gender predilection neither in benign nor in malignant tumors. In our study, whatever the tumor location was, the most common type of melanomas was mixed with both, epithelioid and spindle cells. In some cases, immunohistochemical investigations are useful to appreciate the benign or malignant character of the tumor.