What is Ocular Melanoma?

It is the most common primary malignant tumor in adults. Occurs in 40 to 60 years old, with unilateral onset. 85% occur in the choroid, 9% in the ciliary body, and 6% in the iris.

Ocular melanoma

Eye melanoma etiology and pathology

It is the most common primary malignant tumor in adults. Occurs in 40 to 60 years old, with unilateral onset. 85% occur in the choroid, 9% in the ciliary body, and 6% in the iris.

Clinical manifestations of ocular melanoma

Clinical symptoms may include visual field defects, reduced visual acuity, pain, or inflammation.

Ocular melanoma imaging

1.B-ultrasound performance:

A hypoechoic mass on the choroid. The ability to display small lesions (less than 3mm) is better than CT and MRI, but it is not good for lesions located in the ciliary body.

2.CT performance:

High-density bulges inside the eye ring, smooth and sharp edges, light to moderate enhancement. With subretinal exudation or hemorrhagic detachment, there is a relatively low density on both sides of the mass without enhanced crescent shadows.

3.MR performance:

The tumor T1 signal is higher than the vitreous, and the T2 weighted image signal is lower than the vitreous (short T1 and short T2, which is related to the paramagnetic substance melanin). Relevant retinal detachment T1 and T2 show high signal areas, which are better than CT, but not easy to distinguish from tumors. The scleral invasion manifests as a higher signal region in the low-signal sclera of the T1-weighted image.

Differential diagnosis of ocular melanoma

It needs to be distinguished from choroid hemangioma, choroidal metastases, and choroid osteoma.