How common is melanoma of the retina?
Ocular melanoma is an extremely rare form of cancer that affects the eye with an incidence of 5 per million adults. Although rare, it is the most common primary cancer of the eye in adults.
Can you get melanoma in retina?
Eye, or ocular, melanoma is the most common type of eye cancer. It usually affects the uvea, which is the layer between the retina and the white of the eye. Most melanomas affect the skin, but some develop in other parts of the body, including the eye.
How long does it take for eye melanoma to spread?
There is no known cause, though incidence is highest among people with lighter skin and blue eyes. Approximately 50% of patients with OM will develop metastases by 10 to 15 years after diagnosis (a small percentage of people will develop metastases even later i.e. 20-25 years after their initial diagnosis).
How rare is melanoma of the eye?
The uvea contains melanocytes. Uveal melanoma is another name for ocular melanoma. This is the most common form of eye cancer in adults, but it’s still rare. Your odds of getting it are about 6 in 1 million.
How aggressive is ocular melanoma?
This is an aggressive type of cancer that can potentially spread to other areas of the body, most often to the liver. Immediate treatment is often necessary. The approach depends on the size and placement of the tumor, and the stage at which it is found. The two most common treatments are radiation therapy and surgery.
What is the prognosis for melanoma of the eye?
The 5-year survival rate for eye melanoma is 82%. When melanoma does not spread outside the eye, the 5-year relative survival rate is about 85%. The 5-year survival rate for those with disease that has spread to surrounding tissues or organs and/or the regional lymph nodes is 71%.
How is melanoma of the retina treated?
Surgery is the most common treatment for intraocular melanoma. The following types of surgery may be used: Resection: Surgery to remove the tumor and a small amount of healthy tissue around it. Enucleation: Surgery to remove the eye and part of the optic nerve.
How long can you live with ocular melanoma?
5-year relative survival rates for eye melanoma
| SEER stage | 5-year relative survival rate |
|---|---|
| Localized | 84% |
| Regional | 70% |
| Distant | 18% |
| All SEER stages combined | 81% |
Can eye melanoma spread to the brain?
Metastasis of the ocular malignant melanoma to the brain is extremely rare and most often occurs simultaneously with liver metastases. Lorigan et al., in clinical and radiological studies, found a total of five cases of brain metastases in 110 cases of metastatic choroidal melanoma [3].
What are the signs that melanoma has spread to the brain?
When melanoma spreads to the brain and symptoms occur, they may include:
- Headaches.
- Seizures.
- Paralysis on one side of your body.
- Problems with your eyesight.