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Review
. 2021 Jun;7(3):159-167.
doi: 10.1159/000512738. Epub 2021 Feb 9.

Uveal Melanoma in Asians: A Review

Pradeep Manchegowda  1 , Arun D Singh  2 , Carol Shields  3 , Swathi Kaliki  4 , Parag Shah  5 , Lingam Gopal  6 , Pukhraj Rishi  7
Affiliations
Review

Uveal Melanoma in Asians: A Review

Pradeep Manchegowda et al. Ocul Oncol Pathol. 2021 Jun.

Abstract

Despite limited data, some differences in the clinical profile can be observed in Asian population when compared with presentation of uveal melanoma (UM) in white population. The incidence of UM is higher in Whites than in Asians. For the purpose of comparison with Asian population, data from North America, Europe, and Australia were considered as that of "white" population. The annual incidence of UM has been reported to be 5-6 cases/million in whites. The incidence in different parts of Asia is estimated at 0.2-0.6 per million. The age of presentation is around 40-55 years in Asians, which is younger when compared to that of whites (mean age of 58 years). At presentation, mean basal diameter of tumors in Asians is greater compared to whites but overall, medium-size tumors are most common. Clinical presentation is straightforward in majority of cases with retinal detachment, acute glaucoma, uveitis, cataract, or vitreous hemorrhage as common symptoms. Epithelioid cell-type variant carries the worst prognosis. Management options for choroidal melanoma include transpupillary thermotherapy, plaque radiotherapy, charged particle irradiation, local resection, enucleation, or orbital exenteration. Most commonly used modalities are enucleation and plaque radiotherapy.

Keywords: Asian; Choroid; Eye; Iris; Melanoma; Tumor; Uvea.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest to disclose. Prof. Singh (as one co-author) is the Editor-in-Chief of the journal Ocular Oncology and Pathology.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
External photograph reveals ocular melanocytosis (a), slit-lamp examination with diffuse illumination (b) reveals ectropion uveae, and ultrasound B-scan (c) reveals a large mushroom-shaped choroidal mass with acoustic hollowing. Vitreous echoes denote hemorrhage.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Color fundus photograph (montage) reveals a large choroidal melanoma with optic disc overhang (a) and retinal invasion (a, b). Photomicrograph of the enucleated eye (Hematoxylin and eosin, ×10) reveals choroid (star) and pigmented tumor cells in the retina (arrow; c).
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Forrest plot showing the mean and range of age at presentation among the 12 Asian studies described, with a weighted mean (red box) at the bottom.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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