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

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.