Malignant melanoma of conjunctiva metastatic to parotid gland. Reports of cases and discussion of surgical management.

Invasive malignant melanoma of the conjunctiva is a rare neoplasm fatal in 40% of cases. Accepted techniques of surgical management include wide local excision, conjunctivectomy, and exenteration. Recently lymphatic dissections have been proposed, but not described, for invasive conjunctival melanoma. We present five cases of invasive conjunctival melanoma, including two with intraglandular parotid metastases. The surgical management of these patients is presented, and a proposal is made for radical bloc dissection of the orbital contents and regional lymphatics. The histology of conjunctival melanoma is discussed, and a classification proposed to assist the head and neck surgical team in the management of this disease.