Malignant Epibulbar Tumours: New Strategies in Diagnostics and Therapy

In this article we discuss the complex diagnostic approaches and therapeutic options for the most important conjunctival malignancies. Conjunctival melanoma can be a diagnostic challenge as it can be difficult to distinguish from benign melanocytic conjunctival tumours. Complete surgical excision accompanied by a coherent adjuvant concept is the key for a curative therapy. Moderate and severe conjunctival intraepithelial neoplasias (CIN) are precancerous lesions and can progress to invasive squamous cell carcinoma. The involvement of large parts of the ocular surface can prevent an R0-resection. Adjuvant therapeutic concepts are therefore especially important to gain tumour control and preserve the function of the affected eye. Lymphomas are the most common malignant primary tumours of the orbit and ocular adnexa. They can present as primary or secondary tumours of the conjunctiva, the lacrimal gland, the orbital fat, the eye lid or the lacrimal sac. The most common manifestation site of ocular MALT lymphoma is the conjunctiva with 20 - 33% of all epibulbar lymphomas. More than 75% of ocular lymphoma patients develop only one lymphomatous lesion. Immunophenotyping allows the exact differentiation between the lymphoma entities. Infectious agents (e. g., Chlamydia psittaci) seem to play a role in the pathogenesis. An overview over radiotherapeutic approaches that are conclusively applicable at the conjunctiva completes the article.