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How long does it take for ocular melanoma to metastasize?

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How long does it take for ocular melanoma to metastasize?

Approximately 50% of ocular melanoma patients will develop metastatic disease within 15 years of the original diagnosis, and currently there is no cure for metastatic OM.

What is the life expectancy of someone with metastatic ocular melanoma?

The 5-year survival rate for eye melanoma is 82%. When melanoma does not spread outside the eye, the 5-year relative survival rate is about 85%. The 5-year survival rate for those with disease that has spread to surrounding tissues or organs and/or the regional lymph nodes is 71%.

What is the best treatment for ocular melanoma?

Surgery. Surgery is the most common treatment for intraocular melanoma. The following types of surgery may be used: Resection: Surgery to remove the tumor and a small amount of healthy tissue around it.

Can eye melanoma spread to the brain?

Metastasis of the ocular malignant melanoma to the brain is extremely rare and most often occurs simultaneously with liver metastases. Lorigan et al., in clinical and radiological studies, found a total of five cases of brain metastases in 110 cases of metastatic choroidal melanoma [3].

Can melanoma in the eye be cured?

These rare cancers can be treated with either surgical removal of the tumor, if it is small enough, or radiation therapy. In more advanced cases or if there is serious eye damage, enucleation (removal of the eyeball) may be needed.

What is considered a large ocular melanoma?

This system divides eye melanomas into small, medium, and large: Small: Between 1 mm and 3 mm in height and between 5 mm and 16 mm across. Medium: Between 3.1 mm and 8 mm in height and no more than 16 mm across. Large: More than 8 mm in height or more than 16 mm across.

What are the main causes of ocular melanoma?

Ocular melanoma causes

  • exposure to natural sunlight or artificial sunlight (such as from tanning beds) over long periods of time may cause a melanoma on the surface of the eye (conjunctival melanoma)
  • having light-colored eyes (blue or green eyes)
  • older age.
  • Caucasian descent.

Where does ocular melanoma metastasize to?

An ocular melanoma has the potential to spread (metastasize) to other areas of the body. The liver is the most common organ in the body affected by metastasis of an ocular melanoma (80% of cases) but less often may involve the lungs, skin or soft tissue, and bone.