A 60-year-old man developed a subcutaneous mass in the right lower eyelid 2 1/2 years after enucleation of the left eye for a mixed-cell-type choroidal melanoma. Excision of the subcutaneous eyelid ...mass revealed the tumor to be a malignant melanoma composed of spindle B cells similar to those in the intraocular tumor. The patient's systemic evaluation, including liver enzymes, has remained normal, with no signs of further metastasis and no evidence of another primary melanoma for 14 months of postexcision follow-up. The significance of the rare occurrence of isolated metastatic melanoma from the choroid of one eye to the eyelid of the other is discussed.
A series of ten patients had canalicular intubation with Teflon and Silastic tubing. Our experience has shown that Silastic tubing appears to be more pliable, has good capillary action, and causes ...less irritation within the canalicular system than polyethylene or Teflon tubing. Five patients had very good results, three patients were improved, and there were two failures. We believe that this technique is useful in selected cases where there is an obstructed canaliculus near its junction with the sac. There should be only minimal scarring in the medial canthal area for the greatest chance of success with this method.
