[Uveal and iridociliary melanomas in young patients : A retrospective analysis of 57 cases].
BACKGROUND
Uveal melanomas (UM) are rare malignancies in young patients. It is unknown if UM in young patients significantly differs from those in older patients concerning tumor size and localization, metastasis and genetics. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical course and tumor characteristics in young patients with UM.


METHODS
All patients with UM below the age of 32 years who had been treated at our hospital were included in the study. Patient age and sex, duration of symptoms, visual impairment, tumor size and location, genetics, therapy, follow-up interventions and tumor-associated deaths were documented.


RESULTS
A total of 57 patients (67 % male, mean age 24.7 years) were included in the study with an average symptomatic course of 5 months. Of the patients 8 (14 %) had an initial visual acuity of ≥ 0.9, 16 (28 %) 0.5-0.8, 22 (39 %) 0.05-0.4 and 9 (16 %) < 0.05 (no data for 2 patients, 4 %). After therapy visual acuity was < 0.05 in 54 % and 53 % of the tumors were choroidal UM (70 % juxtapapillary/circumpapillary), whereas 47 % were ciliochoroidal (54 % with iridociliary involvement). The average tumor size was 12.7 ± 3.6 mm with an average prominence of 6.2 ± 3.2 mm. Genetic evaluation (n = 16) revealed disomy 3 in 64 % and 54 % of the patients received radiotherapy with local application of ruthenium 106. In 46 % of cases follow-up interventions were neccessary including 70 % due to radiogenic retinopathy.


CONCLUSIONS
In young patients UM did not show any preferred localization. The majority of genetically evaluated tumors revealed disomy 3 with no significant correlation to tumor location. Independent of tumor size, location and therapy, approximately half of the patients needed follow-up interventions, predominantly due to radiogenic retinopathy.
Klinik für Erkrankungen des hinteren Augenabschnittes, Universitätsklinikum Essen, Essen, Deutschland.
L J
LJ
Heyer
Klinik für Erkrankungen des hinteren Augenabschnittes, Universitätsklinikum Essen, Essen, Deutschland.
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C
Metz
Medizinische Physik der Strahlenklinik, Universitätsklinikum Essen, Essen, Deutschland.
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D
Flühs
Institut für Kinderradiologie am St. Josef-Hospital, Klinikum der Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Gudrunstr. 56, 44791, Bochum, Deutschland. christoph.heyer@rub.de.
C M
CM
Heyer
Klinik für Erkrankungen des hinteren Augenabschnittes, Universitätsklinikum Essen, Essen, Deutschland.
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N
Bornfeld
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D015984:Causality; D002924:Ciliary Body / Q000473:pathology; D015897:Comorbidity; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015811:Iris Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000401:mortality* / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000401:mortality* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017678:Sex Distribution; D015996:Survival Rate; D047368:Tumor Burden; D014604:Uveal Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality* / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D014786:Vision Disorders; D055815:Young Adult
Prognosis; Radiotherapy; Ruthenium; Uveal melanoma; Vision disorders