Uveal Malignant Melanomas(The Current Status and Treatment of Malignant Melanomas)

The current status and management of the uveal malignant melanoma were provided, reporting our fifteen cases (fourteen choroidal melanomas and one ciliary body melanona) which were pathologically diagnosed in the Department of Ophthalmology, Niigata University. Mean follow-up periods of our fifteen cases were eight years and one month (max. 13 y. 11 m., min. 2 y. 10 m. ). All cases, except one case with extrascleral extension which was treated by excenteration of the orbit, were treated by enucleation of the affected eye. The survival rates after operation were 86.2% (5years), 76.6% (10years). The management of the uveal malignant melanoma is currently controversial. Rescent trend is away from enucleation, and radiotherapy is favorably used. To evaluate the superiority of these treatment, further long period follow-up study would be necessary