Medical treatment for ocular surface squamous neoplasia.

Ocular surface squamous neoplasia (OSSN) is the most common non-melanocytic tumour of the ocular surface. Surgical excision with wide margins using the "no-touch" method was originally the most popular treatment for OSSN. However, in the past two decades, the use of topical medications for OSSN treatment has gained a reputation amongst ophthalmologists for being an effective alternative to surgical excision. Furthermore, technological advancements, such as those seen in high-resolution optical coherence tomography (HR-OCT) for the anterior segment, have facilitated the diagnosis and monitoring of OSSN. When selecting a topical agent, interferon alpha-2b (IFNα-2b) and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) are two of the gentlest medications used for OSSN and are often considered first line therapies due to their high-resolution rates and mild side effect profiles. Mitomycin C (MMC), on the other hand, has a highly toxic profile; therefore, while effective, in our hands it is considered as a second-line treatment for OSSN if the other modalities fail. In addition, newer and less studied agents, such as immune checkpoint inhibitors, retinoic acid, aloe vera, and anti-vascular endothelial growth factor have anti-neoplastic properties and have shown potential for the treatment of OSSN. We enclose an updated literature review of medical treatments for OSSN.

A Systematic Comparison of Dose Distributions Delivered in 125I Plaque Brachytherapy and Proton Radiation Therapy for Ocular Melanoma.

PURPOSE: To characterize dose distributions with 125I plaque brachytherapy compared with proton radiation therapy for ocular melanoma for relevant clinical scenarios, based on tumor base diameter (d), apical height (h), and location. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Plaque and proton treatment plans were created for 4 groups of cases: (1) REF: 39 instances of reference midsize circular-base tumor (d = 12 mm, h = 5 mm), in locations varying by retinal clock hours and distance to fovea, optic disc, and corneal limbus; (2) SUP: 25 superiorly located; (3) TEMP: 25 temporal; and (4) NAS: 25 nasally located tumors that were a fixed distance from the fovea but varying in d (6-18 mm) and h (3-11 mm). For both modalities, 111 unique scenarios were characterized in terms of the distance to points of interest, doses delivered to fovea, optic disc, optic nerve at 3 mm posterior to the disc (ON@3mm), lens, and retina. Comparative statistical evaluation was performed with the Mann-Whitney U test. RESULTS: Superior dose distributions favored plaque for sparing of (1) fovea in large (d + h ≥ 21 mm) NAS tumors; (2) ON@3mm in REF cases located ≤4 disc diameters from disc, and in NAS overall. Protons achieved superior dose sparing of (1) fovea and optic disc in REF, SUP, and TEMP; (2) ON@3mm in REF >4 disc diameters from disc, and in SUP and TEMP; and (3) the lens center overall and lens periphery in REF ≤6 mm from the corneal limbus, and in TEMP with h = 3 mm. Although protons could completely spare sections of the retina, plaque dose was more target conformal in the high-dose range (50% and 90% of prescription dose). CONCLUSIONS: Although comparison between plaque and proton therapy is not straightforward because of the disparity in dose rate, prescriptions, applicators, and delivery techniques, it is possible to identify distinctions between dose distributions, which could help inform decisions by providers and patients.

[Treatment and prognosis of primary ocular adnexal extranodal marginal zone mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma: a report from a single center].

Objective: This study aimed to see how different initial treatment regimens affected the long-term prognosis of patients with extranodal marginal zone mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma confining to the ocular adnexal (OAML) . Methods: Between April 2008 and April 2019, 109 patients with initial mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue confining to ocular adnexal were evaluated and followed-up, and the prognosis of various initial treatment regimens were examined. Results: A total of 36 patients underwent complete surgical resection of the lesions, and 73 patients had residual lesions after surgery, of which 37 patients chose watchful waiting, and 36 patients chose treatment. The treatment regimen included local radiotherapy and systemic treatment (chemotherapy, immunochemotherapy, the combination of radiotherapy and chemotherapy, etc.) , and no serious toxic and side effects were observed in patients receiving systemic treatment. The median follow-up time was 61 (10-142) months. The 5-year and 10-year progression-free survival (PFS) of monocular involvement patients were 78.2% and 76.0% . The 5-year and 10-year PFS rates of patients with binocular involvement were 64.4% and 23.5%. There was significant diference in PFS between patients with monocular and binocular involvement (P=0.010) . Patients who received additional treatment had higher PFS than those patients in the watchful waiting group (P=0.046) . The 5-year PFS was 71.4% and 90.1% among patients in the watchful waiting group and those who received additional treatment, whereas the 10-year PFS was 63.5% and 75.1% , respectively. Patients with OAML were still a risk of disease progression after 5 years. Conclusions: Patients with binocular involvement OAML at the start of the disease had a poor prognosis, but treatment could reduce the risk of recurrence/progression. Systemic therapy is one of the first-line treatment options for patients with OAML, who require long-term monitoring.

Tumour-derived Dilp8/INSL3 induces cancer anorexia by regulating feeding neuropeptides via Lgr3/8 in the brain.

In patients with advanced-stage cancer, cancer-associated anorexia affects treatment success and patient survival. However, the underlying mechanism is poorly understood. Here, we show that Dilp8, a Drosophila homologue of mammalian insulin-like 3 peptide (INSL3), is secreted from tumour tissues and induces anorexia through the Lgr3 receptor in the brain. Activated Dilp8-Lgr3 signalling upregulated anorexigenic nucleobinding 1 (NUCB1) and downregulated orexigenic short neuropeptide F (sNPF) and NPF expression in the brain. In the cancer condition, the protein expression of Lgr3 and NUCB1 was significantly upregulated in neurons expressing sNPF and NPF. INSL3 levels were increased in tumour-implanted mice and INSL3-treated mouse hypothalamic cells showed Nucb2 upregulation and Npy downregulation. Food consumption was significantly reduced in intracerebrospinal INSL3-injected mice. In patients with pancreatic cancer, higher serum INSL3 levels increased anorexia. These results indicate that tumour-derived Dilp8/INSL3 induces cancer anorexia by regulating feeding hormones through the Lgr3/Lgr8 receptor in Drosophila and mammals.

Lung cancer and intraocular metastasis in gestation: Clinical experiences of a rare case.

Lung cancer in pregnancy combined with intraocular metastasis rarely occurs and has a poor prognosis. Here, we report an extremely rare case of a 31-year-old non-smoking pregnant female who was diagnosed with lung adenocarcinoma with multiple metastasis including choroidal metastasis. Whole exon sequencing was performed but no appropriate therapeutic target was identified. The patient received standard pemetrexed plus carboplatin for first-line treatment after delivery. Ophthalmic treatment including transpupillary thermotherapy and intravitreal ranibizumab injections were administered and the patient responded very well to treatment. Her visual acuity was restored, indicating systemic therapy combined with ophthalmic treatment was an appropriate choice of therapy. KEY POINTS: SIGNIFICANT FINDINGS OF THE STUDY: The case reported here of a pregnant female diagnosed with lung cancer with choroidal metastasis highlights the aggressive characteristics of the disease. WHAT THIS STUDY ADDS: Systemic therapy in combination with ocular therapy is an appropriate choice of treatment.

Bilateral Myelinated Retinal Nerve Fibers Associated With Bilateral Vitreous Cysts and Solitary Vasoproliferative Tumor: A New Syndrome.

The authors report a case of a 57-year-old male with high myopia, extensive bilateral myelination of the retinal nerve fiber layer, bilateral vitreous cysts, and a solitary vasoproliferative tumor in the right eye. He underwent pars plana vitrectomy and multiple transpupillary thermotherapy treatments for recurrent vitreous hemorrhages and subretinal exudation from the vasoproliferative tumor. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first description of this constellation of findings and suggests this represents a new syndrome. [Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina. 2018;49:356-359.].

Sentinel lymph node biopsy in periocular merkel cell carcinoma: a case report.

BACKGROUND: The National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines for Merkel cell carcinoma recommend performance of the sentinel lymph node biopsy in all patients with clinically negative nodal disease for staging and treatment. Nevertheless, sentinel lymph node biopsy in the periocular region is debated as tumors are typically smaller and lymphatic variability can make performance procedurally problematic. CASE PRESENTATION: We present a case of a Caucasian patient in their seventies who presented with a 1.0 cm periocular Merkel cell carcinoma, who underwent Mohs surgery with a Tenzel flap repair, that was found to have a positive sentinel lymph node biopsy, but who, despite parotidectomy, selective neck dissection, and radiation, succumbed to the disease. CONCLUSIONS: Evidence in both the site-specific and non-specific literature demonstrates: (1) Worsening prognosis with extent of lymph node burden, (2) improvements in our abilities to perform lymphoscintigraphy, (3) locoregional and distant metastatic disease in patients with tumor sizes ≤1 cm, and (4) significant rates of sentinel lymph node positivity in patients with tumor sizes ≤1 cm. Our case supports that sentinel lymph node biopsy should be considered in all clinically nodal negative periocular Merkel cell carcinoma, regardless of size, and despite limited site-specific studies on the subject.

Ocular adnexal marginal zone lymphoma: Clinical presentation, pathogenesis, diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment.

Ocular adnexal marginal zone lymphoma (OAML) represents 1-2% of all non Hodgkin lymphomas. In the last few years many advances in understanding the pathogenesis and the molecular basis involved in its development have been done. Many potential risk factors have been proposed; a dysregulation of immune response in association with a chronic antigenic stimulation, have been hypothesized as possible pathogenic mechanism. In particular, Chlamydia psittaci infection has been related to OAML arising, and eradicating antibiotic therapy has been addressed as a safe and cost-effective approach. Management of OAML is still heterogeneous and matter of debate. There is no consensus about the best upfront treatment and therapeutic decision should take into account several patient-, lymphoma- and treatment-related factors. Novel agents and chemotherapy-free strategies are being investigated to reduce side effects and improve tumor control. This review is focused in recent knowledge improvements in this lymphoma.

[Malignant medulloepithelioma mimicking retinoblastoma - clinical and morphological case analysis and cell culture experience]. / . Zlokachestvennaya medulloepitelioma, simuliruyushchaya retinoblastomu ­ kliniko-gistologicheskii analiz sluchaya i opyt polucheniya kletochnoi kul'tury.

The paper presents clinical and morphological case analysis of primary intraocular malignant medulloepitelioma (medulloblastoma) of rare localization (central part of the retina with optic nerve involvement) that simulated retinoblastoma in a 2-year-old child. Histological features of the tumor are given in details (tubular and mesh structures of the tumor, rosettes, ribbons, cells with hyperchromic nuclei, and cellular polymorphism). An experience of creating a primary intraocular malignant medulloepitelioma cell culture, as yet exclusive in the Russian Federation, is described. Culture sensitivity for particular drugs (oxaliplatin, irinotecan, ifosfamide, and ascorbic acid at different concentrations) was evaluated by MTT-assay. Of the four products, IC50 (3.3 mg/ml) was obtained only for ascorbic acid. Despite the relative rarity of primary intraocular malignant medulloepitelioma, its differential diagnosis should be carried out, with retinoblastoma in mind in the first place. The obtained data on the effectiveness of ascorbic acid against intraocular malignant medulloepitelioma cells can be used to supplement the existing chemotherapeutic protocols in pediatric ocular and neuro-oncology.

Immunohistochemical characteristics of uveal melanoma assording to the age at diagnosis, histological type and extension of the tumor.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between MMP9 expression and tumour invasion in different structures of the eye. We also examined whether there was any correlation between the growth factors (TGFb and EGF), onco-suppressor proteins (p16 and p53) and Ki-67, and the tumour histological subtypes, atypia level and age at diagnosis. Tumour specimens were obtained from 42 primary uveal melanomas immediately after enucleation at The Helmholtz Moscow Research Institute of Eye Diseases. The patients were not treated with radio- or thermotherapy. During our systematic study, we exclusively employed 10%-formalin fixed, paraffin-wax-embedded tissue sections of UM for histological diagnosis and immunohistochemistry. According to our data the hyperexpression of MMP9 and EGFR correlates with a high proportion of spindle cells in a tumour (Kruskal-Wallis test p=0,1 for each). Moreover, we have demonstrated the association between the level of EGFR, TGFb and MMP9 expression and the initial invasion stage (Spearman's test p=0,1). In addition, we have revealed the significant correlation between TGFb hyperexpression and atypia level (Spearman's test p=0,059). Our data reflect that the diagnoses at an advanced age correlate with hyperexpression of p16 (Kruskal-Wallis test p=0,068). An interesting result is that p16 level reduced in inverse proportion to that of TGFb. On the basis of our data and previous studies, we reached the conclusion that after the lapse of time the level of p16 rises significantly in order to inhibit proliferating activity of melanocytes in the normally functioning pigmented layer. However, although the probability of UM diagnoses in elderly is increasing, we have no reliable data for the relationship with high atypia levels.

Gene expression profiling of lens tumors, liver and spleen in α-crystallin/SV40 T antigen transgenic mice treated with Juzen-taiho-to.

The autogenic lens tumors induced by the Simian vacuolating virus 40 (SV40) T antigen in α-crystallin/SV40 T antigen transgenic (TG) mice, provide a tool to screen anti-tumor reagents in vivo and to clarify the underlying mechanisms. Juzen-taiho-to, a Chinese medicine composed of 10 herbs, was frequently used as an alternative medicine for cancer patients by clinicians and occasionally it was demonstrated to have beneficial effects on the prognosis and general condition of cancer patients. However, it was not scientifically verified. In the present study, the anti-tumor effects and underlying mechanisms of Juzen-taiho-to in the TG mice model was examined using cDNA microarray analysis and the results were confirmed by real-time PCR. The TG mice demonstrated a higher cumulative survival rate after treatment with the drug compared with the control group (P<0.05). Gene chip profiles demonstrated that cell functions involving the membrane, glycoprotein, cell membrane, signal and ionic channel for the lens tumor, the cell cycle, DNA replication, homeobox, mitosis and cell division for the spleen and the acetylation, mitochondrion, ribosomal protein, ribonucleoprotein for the liver, were altered by the administration of Juzen­taiho-to. The important canonical pathways were those of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), the cell cycle and the ribosome for the altered genes of the lens tumor, spleen and liver after drug administration, respectively. From real-time PCR, in the eyeball, epidermal growth factor receptor (Egfr), Rasgrf1 and heat shock protein 1B (Hspa1b) mRNAs were found to be significantly lower in treated lenses than in those not exposed to the drug, while Rps25 mRNA demonstrated the opposite association in the liver. It was suggested that Juzen-taiho-to may prolong the survival time of SV40 T antigen TG mice by improving their nutritional condition, inhibiting the MAPK pathway and strengthening the immune system without causing hepatic toxicity.

Association of ocular and oculodermal melanocytosis with the rate of uveal melanoma metastasis: analysis of 7872 consecutive eyes.

IMPORTANCE: Ocular/oculodermal (oculo[dermal]) melanocytosis is a congenital periocular pigmentary condition that can lead to the development of uveal melanoma, estimated at 1 in 400 affected patients. In this study, patients with melanocytosis who developed uveal melanoma were found to have double the risk for metastasis compared with those without melanocytosis. OBJECTIVE: To determine the relationship of oculo(dermal) melanocytosis to the prognosis of patients with uveal melanoma. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PATIENTS: Retrospective chart review of 7872 patients with uveal melanoma treated at the Ocular Oncology Service, Wills Eye Institute, from August 25, 1970, through August 27, 2008. EXPOSURES: Enucleation, plaque radiotherapy, local resection, or thermotherapy. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Metastasis and death. RESULTS: Of 7872 patients with uveal melanoma, oculo(dermal) melanocytosis was present in 230 (3%). The melanocytosis involved the sclera (92%), iris (17%), choroid (12%), eyelid (8%), and temporal fossa (1%). Eyes with melanoma and oculo(dermal) melanocytosis had a relative risk for metastasis 1.6 times greater compared with those with no melanocytosis (P < .001). Metastasis of uveal melanoma was 2.8 times higher in patients with iris melanocytosis (P < .001), 2.6 times higher with choroidal melanocytosis (P = .02), and 1.9 times higher with scleral melanocytosis (P < .001). By Kaplan-Meier estimates, metastasis in patients with oculo(dermal) melanocytosis vs no melanocytosis was 2% vs 1.8% at 1 year, 27% vs 15% at 5 years, and 48% vs 24% at 10 years (P < .001). By multivariable analysis, the factors predictive of metastasis in patients harboring uveal melanoma associated with oculo(dermal) melanocytosis were increased tumor thickness (P = .001) and the presence of subretinal fluid (P = .05), and the only factor predictive of death was increased tumor thickness (P = .009). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE Patients with uveal melanoma associated with oculo(dermal) melanocytosis have double the risk for metastasis compared with those with no melanocytosis. All patients with oculo(dermal) melanocytosis should undergo ophthalmic examination and imaging on a twice-yearly basis because this could help with the early detection of melanoma.

Predictors of ocular surface squamous neoplasia recurrence after excisional surgery.

PURPOSE: To identify predictors of ocular surface squamous neoplasm (OSSN) recurrence after operative resection. DESIGN: Retrospective case series. PARTICIPANTS: Three hundred eighty-nine consecutive patients who underwent excisional biopsy for OSSN lesions at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute from January 1, 2001, to September 20, 2010. METHODS: Review of pathology records and patient charts. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Identification of factors predictive of OSSN recurrence. RESULTS: Of 389 excised OSSN lesions, 44 recurred during follow-up. The 1-year recurrence rate was 10% and the 5-year recurrence rate was 21%, with a mean time to recurrence in those with a recurrence of 2.5 years (standard deviation, 3.4). Using the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) clinical staging system, T3 and T2 lesions portended a higher risk of recurrence compared with T1 (T2/T1 hazard ratio [HR], 2.05 [P = 0.04]; T3/T1 HR, 2.31 [P = 0.07]). In addition, a location characteristic that increased the risk of tumor recurrence was tarsal involvement (AJCC T3 stage lesion; HR, 4.12; P = 0.007). Nasal location was associated with a decreased risk of tumor recurrence (HR, 0.41; P = 0.008). Pathologic characteristics significantly associated with tumor recurrence were the presence of positive margins (HR, 2.73; P = 0.008) and higher grade lesions (carcinoma in situ and squamous cell carcinoma versus dysplasia; HR, 2.55; P = 0.02). Treatment with adjuvant cryotherapy significantly decreased the risk of tumor recurrence (HR, 0.51; P = 0.03). In those patients with positive margins, the use of postoperative topical interferon therapy lowered the recurrence rate to a level similar to that of patients with negative margins. CONCLUSIONS: Certain patient and tumor factors are associated with a higher risk of OSSN recurrence after operative excision, such as tarsal tumor location and positive surgical margins. Postoperative adjuvant therapy should be considered in patients with high-risk OSSN characteristics.

Ocular melanoma in a patient successfully treated for diffuse malignant peritoneal mesothelioma: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Diffuse malignant peritoneal mesothelioma and ocular melanoma are both rare tumors. To the best of our knowledge there is only one previous report of three cases in a family with known susceptibility to malignancies associating diffuse malignant peritoneal mesothelioma and ocular melanoma, with no sporadic cases previously reported. CASE PRESENTATION: We describe the case of a 59-year-old man with a history of diffuse malignant peritoneal mesothelioma, who presented with ocular melanoma 41 months after cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy. We also briefly review the literature. CONCLUSIONS: Diffuse malignant peritoneal mesothelioma is an uncommon but aggressive disease. As diffuse malignant peritoneal mesothelioma characteristically remains confined to the abdominal cavity, any new extra-abdominal symptom should eventually raise suspicion of another primary tumor. Few cases of diffuse malignant peritoneal mesothelioma associated with other primary tumors have been reported. As ocular melanoma is also infrequent, we suspect a genetic predisposition to these tumors. There is emerging evidence supporting the role of BAP1 mutations in the pathogenesis of these two neoplasias.

Episcleral brachytherapy for uveal melanoma: analysis of 136 cases.

PURPOSE: To assess the results of I-125 episcleral brachytherapy (EB) in uveal melanoma: tumour control, visual acuity (VA), eye preservation and survival. PATIENTS: Prospective and consecutive study of patients with a diagnosis of uveal melanoma at the Ocular Oncology Unit in the Valladolid University Teaching Hospital treated with EB between September 1997 and June 2008. Ocular examination and extraocular and systemic extension data were registered in a database at the time of the diagnosis and during the follow-up. RESULTS: Among a total of 310 patients diagnosed between September 1997 and June 2008, 136 were treated with EB (mean age, 58.3). Mean follow-up was 55.3 months. As for tumour type, 66.9% were nodular and 39% mushroom shaped. With respect to size, 80.9% were medium, 7.4% small and 11.8% large. After 4.6 years of follow-up, tumours were controlled in 97.1%, with a 55.1% reduction in mean height; only 2.9% of patients showed recurrence. VA was maintained in 16.2% of patients and 17.6% showed an increase; 33% had retinopathy and 14.6% optic neuropathy. Only 5.1% of patients underwent enucleation due to complications and there has been 1 melanoma-related death to date. CONCLUSIONS: I-125 EB is effective in tumour control, allowing preservation of the eye and useful visual function for the majority of patients.

Use of rituximab for periocular and intraocular mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma.

The clinical efficacy of rituximab therapy in systemic mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma with both periocular and intraocular involvement is described. Ophthalmic examination and radiologic imaging demonstrated tumor with bilateral periorbital, lacrimal, and subconjunctival infiltration, a pseudohypopyon in one eye, and extensive systemic lymph node involvement. Lymph node biopsy confirmed the pathologic findings of a low-grade MALT lymphoma. The patient had a complete remission within 3 months of starting rituximab therapy. A recurrence 6 months later remitted with a second round of rituximab therapy and the patient remained tumor-free at 1 year.

Isolated hepatic perfusion with high-dose melphalan results in immediate alterations in tumor gene expression in patients with metastatic ocular melanoma.

BACKGROUND: Patients with ocular melanoma liver metastases have a poor prognosis, treatment options are limited, and median survival is less than 1 year. In this study, we characterized the early molecular changes that occur in tumors immediately after vascular isolation perfusion with melphalan with hyperthermia in patients with hepatic metastases from ocular melanoma. METHODS: Patients underwent treatment on a clinical trial using a 60-min hyperthermic isolated hepatic perfusion (IHP) with melphalan. Microarray analysis was performed in 28 tumor samples obtained intraoperatively of which 12 were pre- and 16 were post-IHP. Various statistical analyses were performed to identify differentially expressed genes and gene categories between the groups. RESULTS: Median survival of 17 treated patients was 11.9 months. Unsupervised hierarchical clustering of all tumors resulted in separation of pre and post-IHP samples into two distinct groups. Analysis of genes showed that the Ras GTPase activator, ecotropic viral integration site 5 (EVI5), and several other melanoma-associated genes were overexpressed in pre-IHP tumors. In post-IHP samples the overexpression of a DNA replication associated gene, replication factor C (RFC5), was significantly associated with shortened survival (P < 0.003). Other major gene ontology categories identified in the post-IHP tumor samples were DNA-directed RNA polymerase activity and chromatin remodeling, both important categories involved in DNA replication and repair. CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate that acute changes in gene expression patterns occur in tumors immediately after treatment with melphalan administered via hyperthermic IHP. Rapid activation of DNA synthesis and repair pathways may be a mechanism of acquired tumor resistance in patients with ocular melanoma.

Therapeutic management of ocular adnexal MALT lymphoma.

Non-Hodgkin lymphomas constitute 50% of all orbital malignancies. Mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT)-type lymphoma is the most common histology category in this anatomic region. Ocular adnexal lymphoma of MALT-type is an indolent and rarely lethal malignancy that can often be managed with observation alone. Occasionally, lymphomatous lesions determine the symptoms that condition a patient's quality of life, and so require an immediate antineoplastic treatment. Several strategies are available, but reliable indications supported by prospective trials do not exist. Some therapeutic strategies are associated with substantial side effects and require a well-balanced therapeutic decision, which should take into account several variables related to the patient, the lymphoma, and the treatment itself. In this review, the authors analyze related literature and propose therapeutic guidelines for the management of ocular adnexal lymphoma of MALT-type.

Sentinel lymph node biopsy for sebaceous cell carcinoma and melanoma of the ocular adnexa.

OBJECTIVE: To provide clinical details and long-term outcome data for a series of patients with eyelid or conjunctival melanoma or eyelid sebaceous cell carcinoma who underwent sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy. DESIGN: Retrospective interventional case series with review of clinical records and pathologic specimens. SETTING: Tertiary comprehensive cancer center. PATIENTS: Twenty-five consecutive patients treated at 1 institution for eyelid or conjunctival melanoma or eyelid sebaceous cell carcinoma from December 2000 to October 2004. INTERVENTIONS: Surgical removal of the eyelid or conjunctival tumor and SLN biopsy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Local treatment modalities; lymphatic basins in which SLNs were identified; status of SLNs; false-negative rate; and long-term patterns of local recurrence, regional and distant metastasis, and survival. RESULTS: Seven patients had conjunctival melanoma, 8 had eyelid-margin melanoma with a considerable palpebral conjunctival component, and 10 had eyelid sebaceous cell carcinoma. The SLNs were identified in all but 1 patient by using technetium Tc 99m sulfur colloid as a tracer. Intraoperatively, in 16 patients in whom blue dye was used in addition to technetium Tc 99m sulfur colloid during mapping, no SLN was blue. One patient with conjunctival melanoma and 1 patient with eyelid melanoma had a histologically positive SLN. Two patients with eyelid melanoma and 2 patients with eyelid sebaceous cell carcinoma had negative findings from SLN biopsy but developed recurrence in their regional lymph nodes during the follow-up period. Overall, during follow-up, 2 of 10 patients with sebaceous cell carcinoma (20%) and 5 of 15 patients with eyelid or conjunctival melanoma (33%) had regional lymph node metastasis. Four patients with melanoma who had regional metastasis also developed distant organ metastasis. Two patients with sebaceous cell carcinoma--1 with regional metastasis and 1 without--developed distant organ metastasis. CONCLUSIONS: The detection of histologically positive SLNs in this series of patients may justify further study of SLN biopsy for high-risk patients with ocular adnexal melanoma or eyelid sebaceous cell carcinoma. The false-negative rate is higher than that reported for SLN biopsy at most other anatomic sites. Patients with negative findings from SLN biopsy still require careful long-term follow-up because they may develop regional or distant metastasis.