Abstract
Purpose
Sinonasal mucosal melanoma (SNMM) accounts for approximately 4–8% of sinonasal malignancies. SNMM frequently originates in the nasal cavity, causing nonspecific nasal symptoms that inevitably delay diagnosis. Left untreated, the tumor may extend into the orbit.
Case Description
Herein, the authors describe two patients presenting with compressive optic neuropathy and were found to have advanced SNMM involving the orbit. Both patients presented with vision loss, decreased color vision, proptosis, conjunctival chemosis, and restricted extraocular movements. One patient was found to have a relative afferent pupillary defect. Neither patient was a surgical candidate, and both received palliative radiotherapy and immunotherapy.
Conclusions
These cases and literature review demonstrate the potential for the disease to initially manifest with orbital extension and ocular symptoms. Ophthalmologists can play a crucial role in the early detection of SNMM, which may improve outcomes, given the challenges of SNMM treatment.
Keywords
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
Supplementary Material
Please find the following supplemental material available below.
For Open Access articles published under a Creative Commons License, all supplemental material carries the same license as the article it is associated with.
For non-Open Access articles published, all supplemental material carries a non-exclusive license, and permission requests for re-use of supplemental material or any part of supplemental material shall be sent directly to the copyright owner as specified in the copyright notice associated with the article.
