Season of birth and the risk of uveal melanoma.

PURPOSE: To determine whether the risk of choroid and ciliary body melanoma varies according to season of birth.

METHODS

A case-control study design was used to determine odds ratio of choroidal and ciliary body melanoma for season of birth. Patients with histologically confirmed choroidal and ciliary body melanoma from 1995 through 2004 were identified from the Texas cancer registry. Controls were selected from the same registry.

RESULTS

743 persons with choroidal and ciliary body melanoma were identified during the 10-year study period. There was no association between season of birth and odds ratio for developing choroidal and ciliary body melanoma.

CONCLUSIONS

Although the risk of several types of brain tumors have been associated with birth during the winter, this case-control study found no statistically significant variation in season of birth and the development of choroidal and ciliary body melanoma.