title: Intermittent and chronic ultraviolet light exposure and uveal melanoma: a meta-analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the association between ultraviolet light exposure and uveal melanoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Meta-analysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  A review of 133 published reports on risk factors for uveal melanoma revealed 12 studies that provided sufficient information to calculate odds ratios (ORs) and standard errors for ultraviolet light exposure factors. Data from these studies were extracted and categorized into intermittent ultraviolet exposure factors (welding, outdoor leisure, photokeratitis) and chronic ultraviolet exposure factors (occupational sunlight exposure, birth latitude, lifetime ultraviolet exposure index). Summary statistics were calculated for all risk factors reported by > or =4 independent studies.
  
  
  METHODS
  Welding, outdoor leisure, photokeratitis, occupational sunlight exposure, birth latitude, and lifetime ultraviolet exposure index.
  
  
  RESULTS
  For intermittent ultraviolet exposure, welding was found to be a significant risk factor (5 studies, 1137 cases; OR, 2.05 [95% confidence interval [CI], 1.20-3.51]). Outdoor leisure was found to be nonsignificant (4 studies, 1332 cases; OR, 0.86 [95% CI, 0.71-1.04]). Photokeratitis conferred susceptibility in 3 reports studying this variable, but there were too few studies to validate meta-analyses. For chronic ultraviolet exposure, meta-analysis found occupational sunlight exposure to be a borderline nonsignificant risk factor for development of uveal melanoma (4 studies, 572 cases; OR, 1.37 [95% CI, 0.96-1.96]). Latitude of birth was found to be nonsignificant (5 studies, 1765 cases; OR, 1.08 [95% CI, 0.67-1.74]).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This meta-analysis yielded inconsistent results associating ultraviolet light with development of uveal melanoma. There was evidence implicating welding as a possible risk factor for uveal melanoma.
authors.affiliation: Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. cshah@post.harvard.edu
authors.forename: Chirag P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.forename: Ezekiel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Weis
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lajous
authors.forename: Jerry A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Shields
authors.forename: Carol L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Shields
mesh_terms: D004781:Environmental Exposure; D005843:Geography; D006801:Humans; D007899:Leisure Activities; D008545:Melanoma / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D009381:Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012307:Risk Factors; D013472:Sunlight / Q000009:adverse effects; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014602:Uvea / Q000528:radiation effects*; D014604:Uveal Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*