Clinical and histopathological characteristics of uveal melanoma in Asian Indians. A study of 103 patients.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To study the clinical and histopathological characteristics of uveal melanomas in Asian Indians and compare them with other ethnic groups. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred and three enucleated eyes with clinical diagnosis of uveal melanoma were retrospectively studied (1987-2001) and the clinical and pathological features analysed. RESULTS: Uveal melanomas constituted 0.02% of outpatients in a referral eye hospital in India over a 12-year period. The patients were predominantly males. Uveal melanomas tended to occur in the younger age. The mean age was 45.7 +/- 14.2 years. Melanoma involved the choroid in 90 (87.37%) patients, and both choroid and ciliary body in 13 (12.62%) patients. Mean basal diameter of the tumour was 13.43 +/- 5.32 mm. Mixed cell type was more common. CONCLUSION: Uveal melanomas are rare in the Asian Indians compared to those in the West. They occur in younger persons, have a greater mean basal diameter than that of Caucasians and are predominantly of the mixed cell type.