Geographic disparities in diagnostic screening for metastatic uveal melanoma.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate current practice patterns in diagnostic screening for asymptomatic metastatic uveal melanoma.


METHODS
Survey.


METHODS
Ocular oncologists practicing in North America (United States, Canada) and Europe.


METHODS
Questionnaire sent to specialists participating in the Collaborative Ocular Melanoma Study (COMS) or listed in the Ophthalmic Oncology Task Force of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer.


METHODS
Methods used to screen patients with uveal melanoma for asymptomatic metastasis at initial presentation and follow-up.


RESULTS
Thirty-six of 43 (84%) North American (COMS) specialists and 57 of 103 (55%) European specialists responded to the survey. At presentation, 6 of 36 (17%) North American specialists, versus 54 of 57 (95%) European specialists, performed at least one type of liver imaging study (computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, ultrasonography, or nuclear medicine) (P<0.0001). On follow-up, only 1 of 36 (3%) North American specialists, versus 45 of 57 (79%) European specialists, obtained a liver imaging study (P<0.0001). Thirty-six of 36 (100%) North American specialists, versus 49 of 57 (86%) European specialists, ordered chest x-rays at presentation (P<0.02). This disparity was greater at the time of follow-up, when 28 of 36 (78%) North American specialists, versus 28 of 57 (49%) European specialists, ordered chest x-rays (P<0.01). Similar proportions of specialists in North America and Europe obtained a physical examination and liver function tests at the time of presentation and on subsequent follow-up examination.


CONCLUSIONS
Significant differences exist between ocular oncologists in North America and Europe in the use of techniques to screen for metastatic uveal melanoma. North American COMS centers rely primarily upon liver function tests and chest x-rays. The majority of European centers use liver ultrasonography at initial diagnosis and continue to do so every 6 months. Cost-effective screening protocols for patients with uveal melanoma should be designed and implemented uniformly among ocular oncologists.
Gombos
Dan S
DS
Section of Ophthalmology, Department of Plastic Surgery, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA.
Van Quill
Kurtis R
KR
Uusitalo
Marita
M
O'Brien
Joan M
JM
D005060:Europe; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008400:Mass Chest X-Ray; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods; D008495:Medical Oncology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008545:Melanoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000556:secondary*; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D009656:North America; D009885:Ophthalmology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014604:Uveal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*