A rare case of conjunctival myxoma and a review of the literature

Ophthalmologica. 2008;222(2):136-9. doi: 10.1159/000112632. Epub 2008 Feb 22.

Abstract

Background: To report on an 11-year-old boy with a painless slow-growing temporal bulbar conjunctival mass of his left eye.

Methods: A case report and review of the literature.

Results: An 11-year-old boy presented with a painless slow-growing mass in the temporal bulbar conjunctiva of his left eye, which had been noted for 1 year. After ophthalmic and systemic evaluations, the clinical differential diagnosis at the time included amelanotic naevus, amelanotic melanoma, myxoma, fibrous histiocytoma, reactive lymphoid hyperplasia and lipoma. This lesion was excised under local anaesthesia. From the histopathological features, conjunctival myxoma was confirmed. After 12 months, the patient remained healthy, with no recurrence or metastasis of the conjunctival lesion or evidence of a systemic abnormality.

Conclusion: We report this case to emphasize that conjunctival myxoma can appear as a well-circumscribed, translucent, yellow-pink conjunctival mass in teenage patients. Successful healing is usually achieved by complete surgical resection. Cardiac, endocrine, and family screening is required to reduce the risk of morbidity and mortality.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Child
  • Conjunctival Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Conjunctival Neoplasms / pathology
  • Conjunctival Neoplasms / surgery*
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Myxoma / diagnosis*
  • Myxoma / pathology
  • Myxoma / surgery*
  • Rare Diseases / diagnosis