title: Clinical spectrum and prognosis of uveal melanoma based on age at presentation in 8,033 cases.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate clinical features and life prognosis of uveal melanoma based on age at presentation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective, nonrandomized, interventional case series.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 8,033 eyes with uveal melanoma, 106 (1%) were in young patients (≤20 years), 4,287 (53%) in mid adults (21-60 years), and 3,640 (45%) in older adults (>60 years). Based on age (young, mid adults, and older adults) at presentation, tumor epicenter was located in iris (21, 4, 2%; P < 0.0001), ciliary body (8, 5, and 7%; P = 0.0225), or choroid (71, 91, and 90%; P < 0.0001). Mean tumor diameter (10.2, 10.8, 11.5 mm; P < 0.0001), mean tumor thickness (5.0, 5.3, 5.7 mm; P < 0.0001), and extraocular extension (1, 2, and 4%; P = 0.0004) increased with age. Kaplan-Meier estimates of tumor-related metastasis at 3, 5, 10, and 20 years were 2%, 9%, 9%, and 20% in young patients (P < 0.011); 6%, 12%, 23%, and 34% in mid adults (P < 0.0001); and 11%, 19%, 28%, and 39% in older adults. Kaplan-Meier estimate of tumor-related death at 3, 5, 10, and 20 years were 0%, 2%, 5%, and 17% in young patients (P = 0.08); 3%, 6%, 11%, and 17% in mid adults (P < 0.001); and 7%, 11%, 16%, and 20% in older adults.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Compared with mid adults and older adults, young patients manifested a higher proportion of iris melanoma. Compared with older adults, young and mid adults showed smaller melanoma basal dimension and lower tumor-related metastasis and death.
authors.affiliation: Ocular Oncology Service, Wills Eye Institute, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA. carol.shields@shieldsoncology.com
authors.forename: Carol L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Shields
authors.forename: Swathi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kaliki
authors.forename: Minoru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Furuta
authors.forename: Arman
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mashayekhi
authors.forename: Jerry A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Shields
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000401:mortality; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D014604:Uveal Neoplasms / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000401:mortality; D055815:Young Adult