Eye
Conjunctiva
Melanocytic tumors
Benign epithelial melanosis of the conjunctiva
Author: Deepali Jain, M.D.
Last author update: 1 March 2013
Last staff update: 12 August 2024
Copyright: 2004-2024, PathologyOutlines.com, Inc.
PubMed Search: Melanosis benign eye
See Also: Primary acquired melanosis
Table of Contents
Definition / general | Clinical images | Microscopic (histologic) description | Microscopic (histologic) images | Negative stains | Differential diagnosisCite this page: Jain D. Benign epithelial melanosis of the conjunctiva. PathologyOutlines.com website. https://www.pathologyoutlines.com/topic/eyebenignmelanosisconj.html. Accessed December 4th, 2024.
Definition / general
- Pigmented thickening of conjunctival epithelium, may be normal finding in dark skinned individuals - bilateral, continues throughout life (Surv Ophthalmol 2004;49:3)
- Present in 92% of blacks, 36% of Asians, 28% of Hispanics, 5% of whites
- Uncommon finding in Laugier-Hunziker syndrome (Arch Dermatol 2007;143:631)
- Can be cystic (Cornea 2012;31:1273)
Clinical images
Images hosted on other servers:
Laugier-Hunziker syndrome
Dermoscopic examination of mucosal lesions
Parallel furrow pattern of pigmented macules
Microscopic (histologic) description
- Dense pigmentation at basal layer of epithelium but normal number of melanocytes
- Cystic variant has epithelial lined cysts with goblet cells in substantia propria
Microscopic (histologic) images
AFIP images
Dendritic melanocytes
Images hosted on other servers:
Hyperpigmentation
Negative stains
- HMB45 in racial melanosis (Histopathology 2001;39:426)
Differential diagnosis
- Early primary acquired melanosis:
- Melanocytic proliferation is present
- Iron containing foreign bodies
- Medications:
- Epinephrine, tetracycline, silver containing products
- Melanocyte migration associated with inflammation or trauma
- Ochronosis
- Ocular melanocytosis:
- Pigmentation of ocular structures due to abnormal migration of melanocytes during development
