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Melanoma of the eye

Definition:
Melanoma of the eye is a cancerous tumor in the choroid layer of the eye, which is between the outer layer and the retina.

Alternative Names:
Malignant melanoma - choroid; Malignant melanoma - eye; Eye tumor; Ocular melanoma

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

Melanoma is a very aggressive type of cancer that can spread rapidly. In the US, it occurs in about 6 people per million per year. Excessive exposure to sunlight is an important risk factor and the occurrence of melanoma has greatly increased in recent decades. Fair-skinned and blue-eyed people are affected most often.

The eye can be the primary site of the tumor, or the cancer may have spread to the eye from another location in the body. There may be no early symptoms, but the tumor will eventually cause a retinal detachment and distortion of vision.

Melanoma is the most common type of eye tumor in adults.



Review Date: 7/17/2002
Reviewed By: Scott Howard, M.D., M.S., Memphis, TN. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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