Uveal and conjunctival malignant melanoma in denmark 1943-97: observed and relative survival of patients followed through 2002.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the observed and relative survival of patients diagnosed with a malignant melanoma in the ocular region in Denmark during the period 1943-97.


METHODS
The study included 2,504 patients (1,292 men and 1,212 women) diagnosed with a melanoma in the ocular region, of which 2,434 cases could be topographically subclassified into 2,178 in the choroid/ciliary body, 141 in the iris, and 115 in the conjunctiva. The patients were followed through 2002 and the observed survival proportions and relative survival ratios were estimated.


RESULTS
For the total ocular region and the choroid/ciliary body, the observed survival did not vary statistically significantly with the year of diagnosis. A statistically insignificant higher observed survival for women than men was found for tumors in the ocular region and the subgroups choroid/ciliary body, iris, and conjunctiva. During the 55-year study period, the 5- and 10-year relative survival remained stable for the ocular region for men at 67% and 57% and for women at 71% and 60%, respectively, and stable for the choroid/ciliary body for men at 66% and 55% and for women at 69% and 57%, respectively. The 5- and 10-year relative survival for the iris was for men 90% and 85% and for women 99% and 101%, respectively, and for the conjunctiva for men 83% and 70% and for women 93% and 82%, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
The observed and relative survival of patients diagnosed with a melanoma in the ocular region and choroid/ciliary body in Denmark during the period 1943-97 and followed through 2002 has remained stable. The highest observed and relative survival was found for iris melanomas, the lowest for choroid/ciliary body melanomas, and intermediate for conjunctival melanomas.
Isager
P
P
Department of Experimental Clinical Oncology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark. isager@dadlnet.dk
Engholm
G
G
Overgaard
J
J
Storm
H
H
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003230:Conjunctival Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality*; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000401:mortality*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017678:Sex Distribution; D015996:Survival Rate; D013997:Time Factors; D014604:Uveal Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality*