What is a myxoma?
With a minuscule incidence of less than 0.005%, a myxoma is a staggeringly rare condition. Defined as noncancerous tumors of our connective tissue, myxomas present similarly to other, slightly more common conditions such as conjunctival lymphoma, lymphangioma, ocular surface squamous neoplasia (OSSN), or amelanotic melanoma. Consequently, they are usually misdiagnosed, or, at the very least, are difficult to diagnose.
Unique Ultrasound Findings!
Very limited literature exists describing cases and interventions of myxoma. In an effort to offset this shortage of research, The Eye Cancer Foundation sponsored a publication describing a myxoma case with unique ultrasonographic findings.
Other tumors of the conjunctiva often appear as a single, solid mass. Myxomas in particular present as smooth, yellow-pink masses on the eyeball, ranging in size from 4 mm to 20 mm. In this particular case under study, the patient’s myxoma showed scattered cells rather than a uniform image. So, while they are similar in many ways to other tumors, myxomas can have unique features that separate them from the others.
The Verdict…
Dr. Finger, Chairman of the ECF and Chief Researcher in this case study, concludes that:
“Though conjunctival myxomas can masquerade as various other conditions, high-frequency ultrasound proves myxomas have a distinct vascular pattern and no evidence of intraocular tumor invasion.”
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