NAEVI AND MELANOMATA OF THE CONJUNCTIVA

Abstract

NAEvi are the most common benign tumours of the conjunctiva, and their malignant counterparts, the malignant melanomata, although far less frequently encountered, are among the most serious of the ocular neoplasms. In typical cases the histological diagnosis of naevi and melanomata is not difficult, but many cases are not typical, and it is these atypical cases that tax the diagnostic ability of the histopathologist, particularly if the lesion shows changes suggestive of malignancy. In addition to the diagnostic problems presented by these tumours their treatment is in dispute, mainly because, with certain notable exceptions, few clinicians have treated more than a smnall number of these tumours during their lifetime.