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Ciliary body melanoma

AI overview

Ciliary body melanoma is a type of cancer arising from the coloured part ( uvea ) of the eye .

Key points
  • It accounts for about 12% of uveal melanomas.
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    About 12% of uveal melanoma arise from the ciliary body.
  • It most commonly occurs in the sixth decade of life.
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    It occurs most commonly in the sixth decade of life.
Symptoms
  • External signs include dilated episcleral blood vessels (sentinel vessels).
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    External signs include dilated episcleral blood vessels ( sentinel vessels ).
  • Extraocular erosion may produce a dark mass beneath the conjunctiva.
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    Extraocular erosion may produce a dark mass beneath the conjunctiva .
  • Pressure on the lens can cause astigmatism, subluxation of the lens, and localised lens opacity.
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    Pressure on the lens by the enlarging tumor can cause astigmatism , subluxation of the lens and formation of a localised lens opacity .
  • The tumor can erode forward through the iris root and mimic an iris melanoma.
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    The tumor can erode forward through the iris root and mimic an iris melanoma .
  • Retinal detachment can rarely be caused by posterior extension of the tumor.
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    Retinal detachment can be rarely caused by posterior extension of the tumor.
  • Anterior uveitis is an uncommon presentation occurring due to tumor necrosis.
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    Anterior uveitis is an uncommon presentation and occurs due to tumor necrosis .
  • At times the tumor is detected as an incidental finding during routine examination.
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    At times the tumor is detected as an incidental finding during routine examination.
Diagnosis
  • Usually diagnosed by clinical examination with a slit-lamp utilising a triple mirror contact lens.
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    The tumour is usually diagnosed by clinical examination with a slit-lamp utilising a triple mirror contact lens.
  • Ultrasonography and fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) are sometimes helpful in confirming the diagnosis.
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    Ultrasonography and fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) are also sometimes helpful in confirming the diagnosis.
Treatment
  • Enucleation is the treatment of choice for large ciliary body melanomas.
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    Enucleation (surgical removal of the eye) is the treatment of choice for large ciliary body melanomas.
  • Small or medium-sized tumors may be treated by an iridocyclectomy.
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    Small or medium-sized tumors may be treated by an iridocyclectomy .
  • Radiotherapy may be appropriate in selected cases.
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    Radiotherapy may be appropriate in selected cases.
Red flags
  • Circumferentially growing tumors carry a bad prognosis as they are diagnosed late.
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    Cirumferentially growing tumors carry a bad prognosis as they are diagnosed late.
Prognosis

Cirumferentially growing tumors carry a bad prognosis as they are diagnosed late.

AI-synthesized from the Wikipedia article “Ciliary body melanoma”. Not medical advice. Verify source →

Ciliary body melanoma is a type of cancer arising from the coloured part (uvea) of the eye.

About 12% of uveal melanoma arise from the ciliary body.

It occurs most commonly in the sixth decade of life.

  • External signs include dilated blood vessels (sentinel vessels). Extraocular erosion may produce a dark mass beneath the conjunctiva.
  • Pressure on the lens by the enlarging tumor can cause astigmatism, subluxation of the lens and formation of a localised lens opacity.
  • The tumor can erode forward through the iris root and mimic an iris melanoma.
  • Retinal detachment can be rarely caused by posterior extension of the tumor.
  • Anterior uveitis is an uncommon presentation and occurs due to tumor necrosis.
  • Cirumferentially growing tumors carry a bad prognosis as they are diagnosed late.
  • At times the tumor is detected as an incidental finding during routine examination.

The tumour is usually diagnosed by clinical examination with a slit-lamp utilising a triple mirror contact lens. Ultrasonography and fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) are also sometimes helpful in confirming the diagnosis.

Enucleation (surgical removal of the eye) is the treatment of choice for large ciliary body melanomas. Small or medium-sized tumors may be treated by an . Radiotherapy may be appropriate in selected cases.