Clinical and histopathological characteristics of uveal melanoma in asian indians. A study of 103 patients

• Main Authors: Biswas Jyotirmay, Kabra Sachin, Krishnakumar S, Shanmugam Mahesh
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2004-01-01
• Series: Indian Journal of Ophthalmology
• Subjects: Malignant melanoma; Asian Indians
• Online Access: http://www.ijo.in/article.asp?issn=0301-4738;year=2004;volume=52;issue=1;spage=41;epage=44;aulast=Biswas

<b>Purpose:</b> To study the clinical and histopathological characteristics of uveal melanomas in Asian Indians and compare them with other ethnic groups. <b> Materials and Methods: </b> One hundred and three enucleated eyes with clinical diagnosis of uveal melanoma were retrospectively studied (1987-2001) and the clinical and pathological features analysed. <b> Results: </b> Uveal melanomas constituted 0.02&#x0025; of outpatients in a referral eye hospital in India over a 12-year period. The patients were predominantly males. Uveal melanomas tended to occur in the younger age. The mean age was 45.7&#x00B1;14.2 years. Melanoma involved the choroid in 90 (87.37&#x0025;) patients, and both choroid and ciliary body in 13 (12.62&#x0025;) patients. Mean basal diameter of the tumour was 13.43&#x00B1;5.32 mm. Mixed cell type was more common. <b> Conclusion:</b> Uveal melanomas are rare in the Asian Indians compared to those in the West. They occur in younger persons, have a greater mean basal diameter than that of Caucasians and are predominantly of the mixed cell type.