Eye Cancer
General Information About Intraocular (Uveal) Melanoma
Stages of Intraocular (Uveal) Melanoma
Treatment Option Overview
Intraocular melanoma is a rare disease in which cancer forms
in melanocytes in the eye. Melanocytes are cells that make melanin (the
pigment that gives skin and eyes their color).
Intraocular melanoma begins in the uvea. The uvea has three
parts. The iris is the colored area at the front of the eye. The
ciliary body is a ring of muscle tissue that changes the size of the
pupil and the shape of the lens. The choroid is a layer of blood
vessels that brings oxygen and nutrients to the eye. Most intraocular
melanomas begin in the choroid.
There may be no early signs or symptoms of intraocular
melanoma. It is sometimes found during an eye exam.
Risk factors for intraocular melanoma include having fair skin
that freckles and burns easily, does not tan, or tans poorly and having
blue, green, or other light-colored eyes.
General Information About Intraocular (Uveal) Melanoma
Key Points
- Intraocular melanoma is a disease in which malignant
(cancer) cells form in the tissues of the eye.
- Being older and having fair skin may increase the risk of
intraocular melanoma.
- Signs of intraocular melanoma include blurred vision or a
dark spot on the iris.
- Tests that examine the eye are used to help detect (find)
and diagnose intraocular melanoma.
- A biopsy of the tumor is rarely needed to diagnose
intraocular melanoma.
- Certain factors affect prognosis (chance of recovery) and
treatment options.
Intraocular
melanoma is a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form in the
tissues of the eye.
Intraocular
melanoma begins in the middle of three layers of the wall
of
the eye. The outer layer includes the white sclera
(the "white of the eye") and the clear cornea
at the front of the eye. The inner layer has a lining of nerve
tissue,
called the retina,
which senses light and sends images along the optic
nerve to the brain.
The middle layer, where
intraocular melanoma forms, is called the uvea
or uveal tract, and has three main parts:
- Iris
The iris
is the colored area at the front of the eye (the "eye color"). It can
be seen through the clear cornea. The pupil
is in the center of the iris and it changes size to let more or less
light into the eye. Intraocular melanoma of the iris is usually a small
tumor
that grows slowly and rarely spreads to other parts of the body.
- Ciliary body
The ciliary
body is a ring of tissue with muscle fibers
that change the size of the pupil and the shape of the lens.
It is found behind the iris. Changes in the shape of the lens help the
eye focus. The ciliary body also makes the clear fluid
that fills the space between the cornea and the iris. Intraocular
melanoma of the ciliary body is often larger and more likely to spread
to other parts of the body than intraocular melanoma of the iris.
- Choroid
The choroid
is a layer of blood
vessels that bring oxygen
and nutrients
to the eye. Most intraocular melanomas begin in the choroid.
Intraocular melanoma of the choroid is often larger and more likely to
spread to other parts of the body than intraocular melanoma of the iris.
Anatomy of the eye, showing
the outside and inside of the eye including the sclera, cornea, iris,
ciliary body, choroid, retina, vitreous humor, and optic nerve. The
vitreous humor is a liquid that fills the center of the eye.
Intraocular melanoma is a
rare cancer
that forms from cells
that make melanin
in the iris, ciliary body, and choroid. It is the most common eye
cancer in adults.
Being
older and having fair skin may increase the risk of intraocular
melanoma.
Anything that increases
your risk of getting a disease is called a risk
factor. Having a risk factor does not mean that you will
get
cancer; not having risk factors doesn't mean that you will not get
cancer. Talk with your doctor if you think you may be at risk.
Risk factors for
intraocular melanoma include the following:
- Having a fair complexion, which includes the following:
- Fair skin that freckles and burns easily, does not tan,
or tans poorly.
- Blue or green or other light-colored eyes.
- Older age.
- Being white.
Signs
of intraocular melanoma include blurred vision or a dark spot on the
iris.
Intraocular melanoma may
not cause early signs
or symptoms.
It is sometimes found during a regular eye exam when the doctor dilates
the pupil and looks into the eye. Signs and symptoms may be caused by
intraocular melanoma or by other conditions.
Check with your doctor if you have any of the following:
- Blurred vision or other change in vision.
- Floaters (spots that drift in your field of vision) or
flashes of light.
- A dark spot on the iris.
- A change in the size or shape of the pupil.
- A change in the position of the eyeball in the eye socket.
Tests
that examine the eye are used to help detect (find) and diagnose
intraocular melanoma.
The following tests and
procedures may be used:
- Physical
exam and history
: An exam of the body to check general signs of
health, including checking for signs of disease, such as lumps or
anything else that seems unusual. A history of the patient's health
habits and past illnesses and treatments will also be taken.
- Eye exam with dilated pupil:
An exam of the eye in which the pupil is dilated (enlarged) with
medicated eye drops to allow the doctor to look through the lens and
pupil to the retina. The inside of the eye, including the retina and
the optic nerve, is checked. Pictures may be taken over time to keep
track of changes in the size of the tumor. There are several types of
eye exams:
- Ophthalmoscopy
: An exam of the inside of the back of the eye
to check the retina and optic nerve using a small magnifying lens and a
light.
- Slit-lamp
biomicroscopy : An exam of the inside of
the
eye to check the retina, optic nerve, and other parts of the eye using
a strong beam of light and a microscope.
- Gonioscopy
: An exam of the front part of the eye between
the cornea and iris. A special instrument is used to see if the area
where fluid drains out of the eye is blocked.
- Ultrasound
exam of the eye: A procedure in which high-energy sound
waves (ultrasound) are bounced off the internal tissues of the eye to
make echoes. Eye drops are used to numb the eye and a small probe that
sends and receives sound waves is placed gently on the surface of the
eye. The echoes make a picture of the inside of the eye and the
distance from the cornea to the retina is measured. The picture, called
a sonogram,
shows on the screen of the ultrasound monitor.
- High-resolution ultrasound
biomicroscopy : A procedure in which
high-energy sound waves (ultrasound) are bounced off the internal
tissues of the eye to make echoes. Eye drops are used to numb the eye
and a small probe that sends and receives sound waves is placed gently
on the surface of the eye. The echoes make a more detailed picture of
the inside of the eye than a regular ultrasound. The tumor is checked
for its size, shape, and thickness, and for signs that the tumor has
spread to nearby tissue.
- Transillumination of the globe and iris:
An exam of the iris, cornea, lens, and ciliary body with a light placed
on either the upper or lower lid.
- Fluorescein angiography
: A procedure to look at blood vessels and the flow
of blood
inside the eye. An orange fluorescent dye
(fluorescein) is injected
into a blood vessel in the arm and goes into the bloodstream. As the
dye travels through blood vessels of the eye, a special camera takes
pictures of the retina and choroid to find any areas that are blocked
or leaking.
- Indocyanine green angiography:
A procedure to look at blood vessels in the choroid layer of the eye. A
green dye (indocyanine green) is injected into a blood vessel in the
arm and goes into the bloodstream. As the dye travels through blood
vessels of the eye, a special camera takes pictures of the retina and
choroid to find any areas that are blocked or leaking.
- Ocular coherence tomography
: An imaging
test that uses light waves to take cross-section pictures
of
the retina, and sometimes the choroid, to see if there is swelling or
fluid beneath the retina.
A
biopsy of the tumor is rarely needed to diagnose intraocular melanoma.
A biopsy
is the removal of cells or tissues so they can be viewed under a
microscope to check for signs of cancer. Rarely, a biopsy of the tumor
is needed to diagnose
intraocular melanoma. Tissue that is removed during a biopsy or surgery
to remove the tumor may be tested to get more information about prognosis
and which treatment options are best.
The following tests may
be done on the sample of tissue:
- Cytogenetic
analysis: A laboratory
test in which cells in a sample of tissue are viewed under
a
microscope to look for certain changes in the chromosomes.
- Gene
expression profiling : A laboratory test
in
which cells in a sample of tissue are checked for certain types of RNA.
A biopsy may result in
retinal detachment (the retina separates from other tissues in the
eye). This can be repaired by surgery.
Certain
factors affect prognosis (chance of recovery) and treatment options.
The prognosis (chance of recovery)
and treatment options depend on the following:
- How the melanoma
cells look under a microscope.
- The size and thickness of the tumor.
- The part of the eye the tumor is in (the iris, ciliary
body, or choroid).
- Whether the tumor has spread within the eye or to other
places in the body.
- Whether there are certain changes in the genes
linked to intraocular melanoma.
- The patient's age and general health.
- Whether the tumor has recurred
(come back) after treatment.
Stages of Intraocular (Uveal) Melanoma
Key Points
- After intraocular melanoma has been diagnosed, tests are
done to find out if cancer cells have spread to other parts of the
body.
- The following sizes are used to describe intraocular
melanoma:
- There are three ways that cancer spreads in the body.
- Cancer may spread from where it began to other parts of the
body.
- There are two staging systems for intraocular melanoma.
- The following stages are used for intraocular melanoma of
the iris:
- Stage I
- Stage II
- Stage III
- Stage IV
- The following stages are used for intraocular melanoma of
the ciliary body and choroid:
- Stage I
- Stage II
- Stage III
- Stage IV
After
intraocular melanoma has been diagnosed, tests are done to find out if
cancer cells have spread to other parts of the body.
The process used to find
out if cancer
has spread to other parts of the body is called staging.
The information gathered from the staging process determines the stage
of the disease. It is important to know the stage in order to plan
treatment.
The following tests and
procedures may be used in the staging process:
- Blood
chemistry studies : A procedure in which a
blood
sample is checked to measure the amounts of certain substances released
into the blood by organs
and tissues
in the body. An unusual (higher or lower than normal) amount of a
substance can be a sign
of disease.
- Liver
function tests : A procedure in which a
blood
sample is checked to measure the amounts of certain substances released
into the blood by the liver.
A higher than normal amount of a substance can be a sign the cancer has
spread to the liver.
- Ultrasound
exam: A procedure in which high-energy sound waves
(ultrasound) are bounced off internal tissues or organs, such as the
liver, and make echoes. The echoes form a picture of body tissues
called a sonogram.
- Chest
x-ray : An x-ray
of the organs and bones inside the chest. An x-ray is a type of energy
beam that can go through the body and onto film, making a picture of
areas inside the body.
- MRI
(magnetic resonance imaging): A procedure that uses a
magnet, radio
waves, and a computer to make a series of detailed
pictures
of areas inside the body. This procedure is also called nuclear
magnetic resonance imaging (NMRI).
- CT
scan (CAT scan): A procedure that makes a
series of detailed pictures of areas inside the body, such as the
chest, abdomen,
or pelvis,
taken from different angles. The pictures are made by a computer linked
to an x-ray machine. A dye
may be injected
into a vein
or swallowed to help the organs or tissues show up more clearly. This
procedure is also called computed tomography, computerized tomography,
or computerized axial tomography.
- PET
scan (positron emission tomography scan): A
procedure to find malignant tumor
cells
in the body. A very small amount of radioactive
glucose
(sugar) is injected into a vein. The PET scanner
rotates around the body and makes a picture of where glucose is being
used in the body. Malignant tumor cells show up brighter in the picture
because they are more active and take up more glucose than normal cells
do. Sometimes a PET scan and a CT scan are done at the same time. If
there is any cancer, this increases the chance that it will be found.
The
following sizes are used to describe intraocular melanoma:
Small
The tumor is 5 to 16 millimeters
in diameter
and from 1 to 3 millimeters thick.
Millimeters (mm). A sharp
pencil point is about 1 mm, a new crayon point is about 2 mm, and a new
pencil eraser is about 5 mm.
Medium
The tumor is 16
millimeters or smaller in diameter and from 3.1 to 8 millimeters thick.
Large
The tumor is:
- more than 8 millimeters thick and any diameter; or
- at least 2 millimeters thick and more than 16 millimeters
in diameter.
Though most intraocular
melanoma tumors are raised, some are flat. These diffuse
tumors grow widely across the uvea.
There
are three ways that cancer spreads in the body.
Cancer can spread
through tissue,
the lymph
system, and the blood:
- Tissue. The cancer spreads from where it began by growing
into nearby areas.
- Lymph system. The cancer spreads from where it began by
getting into the lymph system. The cancer travels through the lymph
vessels to other parts of the body.
- Blood. The cancer spreads from where it began by getting
into the blood. The cancer travels through the blood
vessels to other parts of the body.
Cancer
may spread from where it began to other parts of the body.
When cancer spreads
to another part of the body, it is called metastasis.
Cancer cells
break away from where they began (the primary
tumor) and travel through the lymph system or blood.
- Lymph system. The cancer gets into the lymph system,
travels through the lymph vessels, and forms a tumor
(metastatic
tumor) in another part of the body.
- Blood. The cancer gets into the blood, travels through the
blood vessels, and forms a tumor (metastatic tumor) in another part of
the body.
The metastatic tumor is
the same type of cancer as the primary tumor. For example, if
intraocular melanoma spreads to the liver, the cancer cells in the
liver are actually intraocular melanoma cells. The disease is
metastatic intraocular melanoma, not liver cancer.
There
are two staging systems for intraocular melanoma.
Intraocular melanoma has
two staging
systems. The staging system used depends on where in the
eye
the cancer first formed:
- Iris.
- Ciliary
body and choroid.
If intraocular melanoma
spreads to the optic
nerve or nearby tissue of the eye socket, it is called extraocular
extension.
The
following stages are used for intraocular melanoma of the iris:
Stage
I
In stage
I, the tumor
is in the iris
only and is not more than one fourth the size of the iris.
Stage
II
Stage
II is divided into stages IIA and IIB.
- In stage
IIA, the tumor:
- is in the iris
only and is more than one fourth the size of the iris; or
- is in the iris only and has caused glaucoma;
or
- has spread next to and/or into the ciliary
body, choroid,
or both. The tumor has caused glaucoma.
- In stage
IIB, the tumor
has spread next to and/or into the ciliary
body, choroid,
or both, and has also spread into the sclera.
The tumor has caused glaucoma.
Stage
III
Stage
III is divided into stages IIIA and IIIB.
- In stage
IIIA, the tumor
has spread through the sclera
to the outside of the eyeball. The part of the tumor outside the
eyeball is not more than 5 millimeters
thick.
- In stage
IIIB, the tumor
has spread through the sclera
to the outside of the eyeball. The part of the tumor outside the
eyeball is more than 5 millimeters
thick.
Stage
IV
In stage
IV, the tumor
may be any size and has spread:
- to nearby lymph
nodes; or
- to other parts of the body, such as the liver,
lung,
or bone, or to areas under the skin.
The
following stages are used for intraocular melanoma of the ciliary
body and choroid:
Intraocular
melanoma of the ciliary
body and choroid
is grouped into four size categories. The category depends on how wide
and thick the tumor
is. Category 1 tumors are the smallest and category 4 tumors are the
biggest.
Category 1:
- The tumor
is not more than 12 millimeters
wide and not more than 3 millimeters thick; or
- the tumor is not more than 9 millimeters wide and 3.1 to 6
millimeters thick.
Category 2:
- The tumor
is 12.1 to 18 millimeters
wide and not more than 3 millimeters thick; or
- the tumor is 9.1 to 15 millimeters wide and 3.1 to 6
millimeters thick; or
- the tumor is not more than 12 millimeters wide and 6.1 to 9
millimeters thick.
Category 3:
- The tumor
is 15.1 to 18 millimeters
wide and 3.1 to 6 millimeters thick; or
- the tumor is 12.1 to 18 millimeters wide and 6.1 to 9
millimeters thick; or
- the tumor is 3.1 to 18 millimeters wide and 9.1 to 12
millimeters thick; or
- the tumor is 9.1 to 15 millimeters wide and 12.1 to 15
millimeters thick.
Category 4:
- The tumor
is more than 18 millimeters
wide and may be any thickness; or
- the tumor is 15.1 to 18 millimeters wide and more than 12
millimeters thick; or
- the tumor is 12.1 to 15 millimeters wide and more than 15
millimeters thick.
Stage
I
In stage
I, the tumor
is size category 1 and is in the choroid
only.
Stage
II
Stage
II is divided into stages IIA and IIB.
- In stage
IIA, the tumor:
- is size category 1 and has spread to the ciliary
body; or
- is size category 1 and has spread through the sclera
to the outside of the eyeball. The part of the tumor outside the
eyeball is not more than 5 millimeters
thick. The tumor may have spread to the ciliary body; or
- is size category 2 and is in the choroid
only.
- In stage
IIB, the tumor:
- is size category 2 and has spread to the ciliary
body; or
- is size category 3 and is in the choroid
only.
Stage
III
Stage
III is divided into stages IIIA, IIIB, and IIIC.
- In stage
IIIA, the tumor:
- is size category 2 and has spread through the sclera
to the outside of the eyeball. The part of the tumor outside the
eyeball is not more than 5 millimeters
thick. The tumor may have spread to the ciliary
body; or
- is size category 3 and has spread to the ciliary body;
or
- is size category 3 and has spread through the sclera to
the outside of the eyeball. The part of the tumor outside the eyeball
is not more than 5 millimeters thick. The tumor has not spread to the
ciliary body; or
- is size category 4 and is in the choroid
only.
- In stage
IIIB, the tumor:
- is size category 3 and has spread through the sclera
to the outside of the eyeball. The part of the tumor outside the
eyeball is not more than 5 millimeters
thick. The tumor has spread to the ciliary
body; or
- is size category 4 and has spread to the ciliary body;
or
- is size category 4 and has spread through the sclera to
the outside of the eyeball. The part of the tumor outside the eyeball
is not more than 5 millimeters thick. The tumor has not spread to the
ciliary body.
- In stage
IIIC, the tumor:
- is size category 4 and has spread through the sclera
to the outside of the eyeball. The part of the tumor outside the
eyeball is not more than 5 millimeters
thick. The tumor has spread to the ciliary
body; or
- may be any size and has spread through the sclera to
the outside of the eyeball. The part of the tumor outside the eyeball
is more than 5 millimeters thick. The tumor has not spread to the
ciliary body.
Stage
IV
In stage
IV, the tumor
may be any size and has spread:
- to nearby lymph
nodes; or
- to other parts of the body, such as the liver,
lung,
or bone, or to areas under the skin.
Recurrent Intraocular (Uveal) Melanoma
Recurrent
intraocular
melanoma is cancer
that has recurred
(come back) after it has been treated. The melanoma may come back in
the eye or in other parts of the body.
Treatment Option Overview
Key Points
- There are different types of treatments for patients with
intraocular melanoma.
- Five types of standard treatment are used:
- Surgery
- Watchful Waiting
- Radiation therapy
- Photocoagulation
- Thermotherapy
- New types of treatment are being tested in clinical trials.
- Patients may want to think about taking part in a clinical
trial.
- Patients can enter clinical trials before, during, or after
starting their cancer treatment.
- Follow-up tests may be needed.
There
are different types of treatments for patients with intraocular
melanoma.
Different types of
treatments are available for patients with intraocular
melanoma. Some treatments are standard
(the currently used treatment), and some are being tested in clinical
trials. A treatment clinical trial is a research
study meant to help improve current treatments or obtain
information on new treatments for patients with cancer.
When clinical trials show that a new treatment is better than the
standard treatment, the new treatment may become the standard
treatment. Patients may want to think about taking part in a clinical
trial. Some clinical trials are open only to patients who have not
started treatment.
Five
types of standard treatment are used:
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.
- Enucleation:
Surgery to remove the eye and part of the optic
nerve. This is done if vision cannot be saved and the
tumor
is large, has spread to the optic nerve, or causes high pressure inside
the eye. After surgery, the patient is usually fitted for an artificial
eye to match the size and color of the other eye.
- Exenteration:
Surgery to remove the eye and eyelid, and muscles, nerves,
and fat in the eye socket. After surgery, the patient may be fitted for
an artificial eye to match the size and color of the other eye or a
facial prosthesis.
Watchful
Waiting
Watchful
waiting is closely monitoring
a patient's condition
without giving any treatment until signs
or symptoms
appear or change. Pictures are taken over time to keep track of changes
in the size of the tumor and how fast it is growing.
Watchful waiting is used
for patients who do not have signs or symptoms and the tumor is not
growing. It is also used when the tumor is in the only eye with useful
vision.
Radiation
therapy
Radiation
therapy is a cancer treatment that uses high-energy x-rays
or other types of radiation
to kill cancer cells
or keep them from growing. There are two types of radiation therapy:
- External
radiation therapy uses a machine outside the body to send
radiation toward the cancer. Certain ways of giving radiation therapy
can help keep radiation from damaging nearby healthy tissue. These
types of external radiation therapy include the following:
- Charged-particle
external beam radiation therapy is a type of external-beam
radiation therapy. A special radiation therapy machine aims tiny,
invisible particles, called protons
or helium ions,
at the cancer cells to kill them with little damage to nearby normal
tissues. Charged-particle radiation therapy uses a different type of
radiation than the x-ray type of radiation therapy.
- Gamma
Knife therapy is a type of stereotactic
radiosurgery used for some melanomas.
This treatment can be given in one treatment. It aims tightly focused gamma
rays directly at the tumor so there is little damage to
healthy tissue. Gamma Knife therapy does not use a knife to remove the
tumor and is not an operation.
- Internal
radiation therapy uses a radioactive
substance sealed in needles, seeds,
wires, or catheters
that are placed directly into or near the cancer. Certain ways of
giving radiation therapy can help keep radiation from damaging healthy
tissue. This type of internal radiation therapy may include the
following:
- Localized
plaque
radiation therapy is a type of internal radiation therapy
that may be used for tumors of the eye. Radioactive seeds are attached
to one side of a disk, called a plaque, and placed directly on the
outside wall of the eye near the tumor. The side of the plaque with the
seeds on it faces the eyeball, aiming radiation at the tumor. The
plaque helps protect other nearby tissue from the radiation.
Plaque radiotherapy of the
eye. A type of radiation therapy used to treat eye tumors. Radioactive
seeds are placed on one side of a thin piece of metal (usually gold)
called a plaque. The plaque is sewn onto the outside wall of the eye.
The seeds give off radiation which kills the cancer. The plaque is
removed at the end of treatment, which usually lasts for several days.
The way the radiation
therapy is given depends on the type and stage
of the cancer being treated. External and internal radiation therapy
are used to treat intraocular melanoma.
Photocoagulation
Photocoagulation
is a procedure that uses laser
light to destroy blood
vessels that bring nutrients
to the tumor, causing the tumor cells to die. Photocoagulation may be
used to treat small tumors. This is also called light coagulation.
Thermotherapy
Thermotherapy
is the use of heat from a laser to destroy cancer cells and shrink the
tumor.
New
types of treatment are being tested in clinical trials.
Information about
clinical trials is available from the NCI
website.
Patients
may want to think about taking part in a clinical trial.
For some patients,
taking part in a clinical
trial may be the best treatment choice. Clinical trials
are
part of the cancer research process. Clinical trials are done to find
out if new cancer treatments are safe and effective or better than the standard
treatment.
Many of today's
standard treatments for cancer are based on earlier clinical trials.
Patients who take part in a clinical trial may receive the standard
treatment or be among the first to receive a new treatment.
Patients who take
part in clinical trials also help improve the way cancer will be
treated in the future. Even when clinical trials do not lead to
effective new treatments, they often answer important questions and
help move research forward.
Patients
can enter clinical trials before, during, or after starting their
cancer treatment.
Some clinical trials
only include patients who have not yet received treatment. Other trials
test treatments for patients whose cancer has not gotten better. There
are also clinical trials that test new ways to stop cancer from recurring
(coming back) or reduce the side
effects of cancer treatment.
Clinical trials are
taking place in many parts of the country. See the Treatment Options
section that follows for links to current treatment clinical trials.
These have been retrieved from NCI's
listing of clinical trials.
Follow-up
tests may be needed.
Some of the tests
that were done to diagnose
the cancer or to find out the stage
of the cancer may be repeated. Some tests will be repeated in order to
see how well the treatment is working. Decisions about whether to
continue, change, or stop treatment may be based on the results of
these tests.
Some of the tests
will continue to be done from time to time after treatment has ended.
The results of these tests can show if your condition
has changed or if the cancer has recurred
(come back). These tests are sometimes called follow-up
tests or check-ups.
Treatment Options for Intraocular (Uveal) Melanoma
Iris Melanoma
Treatment of iris
melanoma
may include the following:
- Watchful
waiting.
- Surgery
(resection
or enucleation).
- Plaque
radiation therapy, for tumors
that cannot be removed by surgery.
Check the
list of NCI-supported cancer clinical trials that are now accepting
patients with iris
melanoma. For more specific results, refine the search by
using other search features, such as the location of the trial, the
type of treatment, or the name of the drug. Talk with your doctor about
clinical trials that may be right for you. General information about
clinical trials is available from the NCI
website.
Ciliary Body Melanoma
Treatment of tumors
in the ciliary
body and choroid
may include the following:
- Plaque
radiation therapy.
- Charged-particle
external-beam radiation therapy.
- Surgery
(resection
or enucleation).
Check the
list of NCI-supported cancer clinical trials that are now accepting
patients with ciliary
body and choroid melanoma, small size. For more specific
results, refine the search by using other search features, such as the
location of the trial, the type of treatment, or the name of the drug.
Talk with your doctor about clinical trials that may be right for you.
General information about clinical trials is available from the NCI
website.
Choroid Melanoma
Treatment of small choroid
melanoma
may include the following:
- Watchful
waiting.
- Plaque
radiation therapy.
- Charged-particle
external-beam radiation therapy.
- Gamma
Knife therapy.
- Thermotherapy.
- Surgery
(resection
or enucleation).
Treatment of medium
choroid melanoma may include the following:
- Plaque radiation therapy with or without photocoagulation
or thermotherapy.
- Charged-particle external-beam radiation therapy.
- Surgery (resection or enucleation).
Treatment of large
choroid melanoma may include the following:
- Enucleation when the tumor
is too large for treatments that save the eye.
Check the
list of NCI-supported cancer clinical trials that are now accepting
patients with ciliary
body and choroid melanoma, small size. For more specific
results, refine the search by using other search features, such as the
location of the trial, the type of treatment, or the name of the drug.
Talk with your doctor about clinical trials that may be right for you.
General information about clinical trials is available from the NCI
website.
Extraocular Extension Melanoma and
Metastatic Intraocular (Uveal) Melanoma
Treatment of extraocular
extension melanoma
that has spread to the bone around the eye may include the following:
- Surgery
(exenteration).
- A clinical
trial.
An effective treatment
for metastatic
intraocular
melanoma has not been found. A clinical trial may be a
treatment option. Talk with your doctor about your treatment options.
Check the
list of NCI-supported cancer clinical trials that are now accepting
patients with extraocular
extension melanoma and metastatic
intraocular melanoma. For more specific results, refine the
search by using other search features, such as the location of the
trial, the type of treatment, or the name of the drug. Talk with your
doctor about clinical trials that may be right for you. General
information about clinical trials is available from the NCI
website.
Recurrent Intraocular (Uveal) Melanoma
An effective treatment
for recurrent
intraocular
melanoma has not been found. A clinical
trial may be a treatment option. Talk with your doctor
about
your treatment options.
Check the list of NCI-supported cancer clinical trials that are now
accepting patients with recurrent
intraocular melanoma
-NIH