Melanoma of the eye is the most common intraocular tumor in adults. What's more, research shows that this eye cancer accounts for up to 20 percent of all melanomas. What are the symptoms of eye malignant melanoma? How is such an intraocular tumor treated?

Malignant melanoma of the eyeusually does not give any symptoms for a long time - thisintraocular tumoris most often diagnosed during an accidental visit to a specialist doctor. Many patients find out about it too late - when visual acuity deteriorates with age or because of some other pathology such as diabetic retinopathy. Melanoma of the eye is not a common neoplasm, but its treatment is very difficult due to the fact that it is usually detected as a large tumor.

Melanoma of the eye: causes

Melanoma of the eye is formed where there are many pigment cells:

  • in the iris
  • in ciliary body
  • in the choroid

The main causes of malignant melanoma are genetic predisposition and ultraviolet radiation (UVA and UVB).

The most vulnerable to melanoma are people with fair skin, whose skin is easily sunburned, and those with many pigmented lesions (over 30).

Pigment cells can migrate even to parts of the body that are not exposed to the sun at all. Therefore, melanoma can arise not only in the eye, but even under the sole of the foot.

Melanoma of the eye: symptoms

First of all, these are defects in the field of vision and possibly the presence of "luminous spheres" wandering across the field of view, especially at dusk. If the ciliary body is involved, the symptoms may resemble cataracts, cause astigmatism, worsen visual acuity.

A lesion within the iris is usually clearly visible as an irregular dark or light focus different from the normal iris. The same is true for conjunctival melanoma.

Melanoma of the eye: diagnosis

In order to make a diagnosis, it is necessary to evaluate both eyes in a slit lamp and have an endoscopy. The scope of the research depends on the specific case.

An ultrasound is usually performed to assess the tumor boundaries.

Magnetic resonance imaging is performed to evaluate both the eyeball and the eye socket.

Veryessential diagnostics for possible metastases.

Importantly, the absence of liver metastases virtually excludes their presence in other locations. Chest X-ray is routinely performed.

Types of intraocular tumors

  • iris melanoma- becomes quite quickly visible to the patient himself or his surroundings; is a light to dark brown lump (more visible in the blue iris), growing slowly, sometimes causing pupil distortion; initially it does not show pain symptoms and visual acuity disorders
  • ciliary body melanoma- is the rarest form of eye melanoma; it is invisible for a long time without special tests - it often becomes visible only when it enters the anterior chamber of the eye; you may be concerned about visual disturbances or eye pains caused by tumor growth
  • choroidal melanoma- is the most common form of eye melanoma (approximately 80 percent of cases); it may be asymptomatic for a long time, especially when it is located in the peripheral parts of the fundus; when retinal detachment occurs, changes in visual acuity and field of vision occur.

Melanoma of the eye: prognosis and metastases

In malignant melanoma of the eye, the prognosis depends on the location of the tumor, its size and the histological type. Malignant melanoma of the eye can metastasize to the lymph nodes, lungs, kidneys, liver, bones, digestive system, brain, and also infiltrate the eyeball and penetrate it.

Melanoma of the eye: treatment

Treatment of malignant melanoma depends on its size and location. When the tumor is large, the eyeball is usually removed (enaculation) or the entire content of the orbit (exenteration) with the subsequent insertion of an eye prosthesis. Different methods are used for smaller tumors:

  • local intraocular excision
  • radiotherapy with radioactive plates (brachotherapy) with radioactive iodine, ruthenium and iridium stitched onto the sclera
  • external irradiation and teleradiotherapy

Argon laser coagulation can also be used for small lesions. During the last few years, the development of technology has made it possible to use proton cyclotrons and helium ions for treatment. Complementary treatments for all of these methods include chemotherapy and immunotherapy.

Czerniak

Category:

Oncology