Uveal melanoma in teenagers and children. A report of 40 cases

Ophthalmology. 1991 Nov;98(11):1662-6. doi: 10.1016/s0161-6420(91)32071-2.

Abstract

A review of 3706 consecutive patients with uveal melanoma revealed that 40 patients (1.1%) were age 20 years or younger at the time of diagnosis. The youngest patient was age 6 years but the majority of patients (78%) were between 15 and 20 years old. The tumor occurred in the iris in 5 cases (12%) and in the posterior uvea in 35 cases (88%). The mean largest tumor dimension and thickness was 10 mm and 5 mm, respectively. In all cases, the diagnosis of uveal melanoma was suspected before referral, and misdirected treatment was avoided. The tumor was initially treated by enucleation in 24 cases (60%), local resection in 7 (18%), plaque radiotherapy in 3 (8%), and observation in 6 (15%). Secondary treatment was required in 7 cases in the form of enucleation (4 cases), ablative laser (1 case), plaque radiotherapy (1 case), and exenteration (1 case). The mean follow-up period was 68 months (median, 48 months) from the time of treatment, and only one patient died of metastases (from a massive ciliochoroidal melanoma 33 months after treatment). The remainder of the group of young patients are alive and healthy. Cumulative survival rates show that 96% of young patients with uveal melanoma survive at the 5-year period.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Brachytherapy
  • Child
  • Eye Enucleation
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Iris Neoplasms / mortality
  • Iris Neoplasms / pathology
  • Iris Neoplasms / therapy
  • Male
  • Melanoma / mortality
  • Melanoma / pathology*
  • Melanoma / therapy
  • Survival Rate
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Uveal Neoplasms / mortality
  • Uveal Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Uveal Neoplasms / therapy