A malignant tumor called melanoma or melanoblastoma can form in any places where there are accumulations of melanocytes - pigment cells. As a rule, it is localized to the skin, but its appearance on the mucous membranes is not ruled out. For example, there is often a melanoma of the eye, which is one of the most dangerous types of cancer.
Types and symptoms of eye melanoma
Approximately 85% of all diagnoses are a tumor located in the choroid (choroid). About 9% of cases occur in neoplasms of the ciliary body, 6% in the iris.
Melanoma of the choroid of the eye is rapidly progressing and often gives metastases to other organs, especially the liver and lungs. Because of such features, the disease in question in medicine refers to pathologies with extremely high malignant risk.
It should be noted that melanoma of the choroid of the eye can affect the cornea, retina, vitreous and iris, provoking irreversible changes in them.
Clinical manifestations of the described form of cancer in the early stages are absent, so its diagnosis is difficult. Sometimes melanoblastoma of the eye is accidentally detected during a routine examination with an ophthalmologist.
The late stages of tumor progression are accompanied by the following symptoms:
- deterioration of visual acuity;
- glaucoma ;
- the appearance of flashes, spots in front of the eyes, a sense of "swimming" of objects;
- violation of the shape of the cornea or lens;
- vitreous hemorrhage;
- uneven astigmatism;
- changes in perception of colors;
- retinal disinsertion;
- a change in the shade of the iris, the appearance of contrast spots on it;
- deformity of the pupil.
Treatment and prognosis for melanoma of the eye
Therapy of this type of cancer involves surgical removal of the affected area, as well as healthy tissues surrounding the tumor.
Depending on the size of the neoplasm, either complete excision of the eyeball (enucleation) or various organ-preserving techniques is used:
- cyber knife;
- radiosurgery;
- transpupillary laser thermotherapy;
- cryodestruction;
- brachytherapy.
Additionally, chemotherapy may be prescribed after the operation.
Life expectancy in melanoma of the retina and other parts of the eye is (on average) from 47 to 84%. Survival prognosis within 5 years is influenced by such factors as the patient's age, localization, nature and rate of tumor progression.