Metastasis from untreated uveal melanomas
J. M. Pach and D. M. Robertson
From 1969 to 1985, 224 cases of choroidal or ciliary body malignant
melanoma had metastatic evaluations at the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn.
Five cases (2.2%) were found to have evidence of metastasis during the
pretreatment evaluation. In each case, metastatic melanoma was verified
histologically. Prior to enucleation or radiation treatment, we recommend a
general medical evaluation, liver enzyme studies, and chest roentgenogram.
Computed tomography (CT) of the liver should be performed if liver
involvement is suggested by either the general medical evaluation or liver
enzyme studies. Although CT of the liver in the initial surveillance of
patients with choroidal or ciliary body melanoma is routinely performed at
our institution, CT is not likely to produce a high yield of detectable
disease in the presence of normal liver enzyme levels.
