Retrospective study of choroidal melanomas at the 1st Department of Ophthalmology, AHEPA hospital, Thessaloniki, from 2002 to 2011.

ABSTRACT

AIM: Retrospective study of cases of choroidal melanoma examined at the 1st Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association, during the 10‑year period, from January 2002 to December 2011. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study group consists of 84 patients (84 eyes) with newly diagnosed choroidal melanoma. The documentation of the location and the dimensions of the melanomas, based on B‑Ultrasonography findings (apical height, diameter), were included. A total of 58 patients were referred to a specialized center abroad for conservative irradiation therapy. Twenty six eyes were enucleated due to large size of the tumor and the histopathological type was determined. RESULTS: Of the 84 cases, 44 were located at the posterior pole while 40 anteriorly. Based on size, 6% (5/84) were small, 58% (49/84) were medium and 36% (30/84) large. Based on the histopathological analysis of 22 of the 26 eyes enucleated, 36% were mixed‑cell, 32% were spindle cell and 27% were epithelioid cell melanomas. CONCLUSIONS: Our study is the first documentation and classification of newly diagnosed cases of choroidal melanomas. The large number of mandatory enucleations, due to large size, is surprising. Patients need to be better informed about preventive fundoscopy for diagnosis of asymptomatic melanoma at an earlier stage.