Is choroidal melanoma curable?
Even though the melanoma is cured and in remission in the eye, life-long systemic monitoring for metastasis is necessary, as metastasis could have occurred before the eye cancer was discovered.
Is choroidal melanoma fatal?
Choroidal melanoma is a disease with a high mortality rate, usually irrespective of the chosen treatment modality. About 30-50% of patients with choroidal melanoma will die within 10 years from diagnosis and treatment. Death is usually secondary to distant metastases, and the risk is greatest in larger tumors.
What is considered a large choroidal melanoma?
Large choroidal melanomas were defined as 2.0 mm or more in apical height and greater than 16.0 mm in longest basal diameter, or more than 10.0 mm apical height regardless of basal diameter, or greater than 8.0 mm apical height regardless of basal diameter if less than 2.0 mm to the optic disc.
What is the 10 year survival rate for melanoma?
The 5-year survival rate is around 15% to 20%. The 10-year survival rate is 10% to 15%. This rate is higher if the cancer has spread only to the skin or distant lymph nodes and not to vital organs.
How effective is plaque radiotherapy for juxtapapillary choroidal melanoma overhanging the optic disc?
Plaque radiotherapy for juxtapapillary choroidal melanoma overhanging the optic disc in 141 consecutive patients Using plaque radiotherapy for choroidal melanoma overhanging the optic disc, local tumor control was achieved in 90% of cases. Tumor and radiation effects led to poor visual acuity in 77% of eyes.
What is the prognosis of choroidal melanoma of the optic disc?
Using plaque radiotherapy for choroidal melanoma overhanging the optic disc, local tumor control was achieved in 90% of cases. Tumor and radiation effects led to poor visual acuity in 77% of eyes. The metastatic rate was 13% and the mortality rate was 3%.
What is the mortality and morbidity associated with choroidal melanoma?
Choroidal melanoma is a disease with a high mortality rate, usually irrespective of the chosen treatment modality. About 30-50% of patients with choroidal melanoma will die within 10 years from diagnosis and treatment. Death is usually secondary to distant metastases, and the risk is greatest in larger tumors.
What are the treatments for choroidal melanoma?
Most small choroidal melanomas are treated with locally destructive therapies, such as thermotherapy, radiotherapy or irradiation. 12 Various types of radiation may be used as treatment. 4,5 The most common is plaque brachytherapy, which utilizes a radioactive plaque that is sutured on the surface of the globe exterior to the tumor.