Incidence of cervical metastasis from uveal melanoma: implications for treatment.
BACKGROUND
Although the literature has focused on the propensity of uveal melanoma to metastasize to the liver, little attention has been directed to its spread in regional, cervical lymph nodes.


METHODS
We reviewed records of 77 patients who underwent primary resection of uveal melanoma during a 15-year period at our institution.


RESULTS
A total of only 6.5% of patients developed cervical metastasis. Factors such as age, race, sex, tumor location, and histology were not influential in identifying these patients. Tumor size and local orbital recurrence were, however, associated with a higher risk of cervical lymphadenopathy (p < 0.05). Cervical metastases were also associated with the presence of distant metastatic disease.


CONCLUSIONS
Neck dissection should be reserved for patients with clinically demonstrable lymphadenopathy only after distant disease has been excluded.
Tojo
D
D
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Illinois College of Medicine at Chicago, USA.
Wenig
B L
BL
Resnick
K I
KI
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D009333:Neck; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014604:Uveal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery