Uveal melanoma

Uveal melanoma is a type of <a href="/facts/Eye_cancer/XXymqWm3">eye cancer</a> in the <a href="/facts/Uvea/cGRqLKQ9">uvea</a> of the eye. It is traditionally classed as originating in the <a href="/facts/Iris_(anatomy)/e774BXL8">iris</a>, <a href="/facts/Choroid/QxrbQewl">choroid</a>, and <a href="/facts/Ciliary_body/oTI8AQjh">ciliary body</a>, but can also be divided into class I (low metastatic risk) and class II (high metastatic risk). Symptoms include blurred vision, loss of vision, and <a href="/facts/Photopsia/WszBtonC">photopsia</a>, but there may be no symptoms.
Tumors arise from the <a href="/facts/Melanocyte/z8KowoXP">pigment cells</a> that reside within the <a href="/facts/Uvea/cGRqLKQ9">uvea</a> and give color to the eye. These melanocytes are distinct from the <a href="/facts/Retinal_pigment_epithelium/VTR8z8LW">retinal pigment epithelium</a> cells underlying the <a href="/facts/Retina/v0ISNX2S">retina</a> that do not form melanomas. When eye melanoma is spread to distant parts of the body, the five-year survival rate is about 15%.
It is the most common type of primary eye cancer. Males and females are affected equally. More than 50% <a href="/facts/Metastasis/4dadbm6z">spread</a>, mostly to the liver.

Uveal melanoma open-in-new

Uveal melanoma