Lack of correlation between the location of choroidal melanoma and ultraviolet-radiation dose distribution.
Ocular melanomas arise from the choroid. The results of our study of a total of 92 ocular melanomas would indicate that there is no preferential location for tumors on the eye. We estimated the ultraviolet (UV) radiation dose distribution using data available in the literature. We then compared tumor location and UV-radiation dose distribution. UVC and UVB do not reach the choroid, and UVA is filtered by the cornea and the lens. Only a small percentage of the incoming rays reach the posterior and inferior part of the retina, but none reach the superior and anterior part of the eye. We concluded that it is therefore very unlikely that UV-radiation exposure is responsible for choroidal melanoma.
Schwartz
L H
LH
Service de radiothérapie, AP-HP, Hôpital Saint Louis, Paris, France.
Ferrand
R
R
Boelle
P Y
PY
Maylin
C
C
D'Hermies
F
F
Virmont
J
J
D002830:Choroid Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology*; D003315:Cornea / Q000502:physiology; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D006801:Humans; D007908:Lens, Crystalline / Q000502:physiology; D008545:Melanoma / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology*; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D012160:Retina / Q000528:radiation effects*; D013472:Sunlight; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays