Uveal melanoma
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Uveal Melanoma is cancer (melanoma) of the colored part of the eye and the surrounding areas (uvea).
It is different from skin melanoma, since it is not proven that it is related to solar exposure. However, People with lighter skin and blue eyes have an increased risk of this type of cancer.
The cancer can occur in three different locations: the iris, the ciliary body, and the choroid at the back of the eye.
[edit] Treatment
Primary treatment used to be enucleation, or removal, of the affected eye.
Advances in radiation therapies have significantly decreased the number of patients treated by enucleation.
The most common radiation treatment is now by way of a small radioactive disc containing Iodine seeds or ruthenium) inserted on the outside surface of the eye, underneath the tumor. The disc is left on the surface of the eye for a pre-calculated period (usually few days) then removed.
Other modalities of treatment include laser treatment called transpupillary thermotherapy, resection of the tumor, or combination of different modalities.
[edit] Prognosis
Primary site of metastasis is the liver in most patients, less likely the lungs.
Approximately fifty percent of patients will develop metastases within 15 years.
Average survival time after diagnosis with liver metastases is 8 to 10 months.
