Uveal melanoma. Growth rate and prognosis
D. H. Char, S. Kroll and T. L. Phillips
Department of Ophthalmology, University of California, San Francisco, USA.
OBJECTIVE: To study in vivo tumor growth rates, doubling times, and the
association of these parameters with local tumor control and
melanoma-related mortality. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed uveal
melanomas with documented growth on serial evaluations before treatment.
The tumor dimensions were based on clinical measurements for tumor
diameters and quantitative echography to determine tumor thickness. One
hundred forty-five patients met study criteria. All tumors were initially
measured by the same observer with the same techniques, and, in 133 cases,
serial observations and treatment were performed at our institution.
RESULTS: Tumor-doubling time estimates were log normally distributed, with
a median of 1.4 years. Those 13 patients in whom metastases developed
tended to have more rapid tumor growth rates. Iodine 125 brachytherapy
failed in 8 patients with more rapidly growing tumors. CONCLUSIONS: Faster
growing tumors appear to be more likely to develop early metastases and
have failure of local radiation control.
