Uveal Melanoma: 5-Year Update on Incidence, Treatment, and Survival (SEER 1973-2013).

PURPOSE: To analyze trends in incidence, treatment, and survival of uveal melanoma in the United States from 1973 to 2013 using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

Patients were identified using International Classification of Disease for Oncology codes: C69.3 (choroid), C69.4 (ciliary body and iris), and C69.2 (retina). Trends in age-adjusted incidence, treatment (surgery or radiation), and 5-year relative survival were calculated.

RESULTS

There were 4,999 cases of uveal melanoma. The majority (97.8%) were reported by hospital inpatient/outpatient clinics. Histopathologic confirmation was available in 67.8%. The mean age-adjusted incidence was 5.2 per million (95% CI 5.0-5.4). When the incidence was standardized for race, a small but statistically significant (p < 0.05) annual percentage change of 0.5% was detected in Whites. There was a decline in patients treated with surgery alone (94.2% from 1973 to 1975 vs. 24.7% from 2012 to 2013). A corresponding increase was observed in radiation as primary treatment selection (1.3% from 1973 to 1975 vs. 68.3% from 2012 to 2013). No change in the 5-year relative survival (80.9%) was observed.

CONCLUSIONS

The age-adjusted incidence of uveal melanoma has remained stable with a minor increase in Whites. Despite a shift towards globe-preserving treatment, there has not been a concomitant improvement in survival.