Eye neoplasm
AI overview
An eye neoplasm is a rare type of tumor of the eye.
Key points
-
Eye neoplasms can be benign or malignant, and can affect all parts of the eye.
source quote
Eye neoplasms can affect all parts of the eye , and can either be benign (noncancerous) or malignant ( cancerous ), in which case it is known as eye cancer .
-
Eye cancers can be primary or metastatic, with breast and lung cancer being the most common sources of metastasis.
source quote
The two most common cancers that spread to the eye from another organ are breast cancer and lung cancer .
-
The most common eyelid tumor is basal cell carcinoma.
source quote
The most common eyelid tumor is called basal cell carcinoma .
-
The most common orbital malignancy is orbital lymphoma.
source quote
The most common orbital malignancy is orbital lymphoma .
-
The most common malignant primary intraocular tumor in adults is uveal melanoma.
source quote
The most common malignant primary intraocular tumor in adults is uveal melanoma .
-
The most common malignant intraocular tumor in children is retinoblastoma.
source quote
The most common malignant intraocular tumor in children is retinoblastoma
Symptoms
-
Melanomas may have no symptoms in the early stages.
source quote
In the early stages there may be no symptoms
-
Growing melanomas can cause blurred vision, decreased vision, double vision, vision loss, and retinal detachment.
source quote
As the tumor grows, symptoms can be blurred vision, decreased vision, double vision, eventual vision loss and if they continue to grow the tumor can break past the retina causing retinal detachment.
-
Iris and conjunctival tumors present as a dark spot.
source quote
Iris and conjuctival tumors (melanomas) - Present as a dark spot.
-
Retinoblastoma can cause strabismus, a whitish or yellowish glow through the pupil, decreasing/loss of vision, and a red, painful eye.
source quote
Retinoblastoma - Strabismus (crossed eyes), a whitish or yellowish glow through the pupil, decreasing/loss of vision, sometimes the eye may be red and painful.
-
Large deep orbital dermoid cysts can cause diplopia and loss of vision.
source quote
Large deep orbital dermoid cysts can cause pressure effects on the muscles and optic nerve, leading to diplopia and loss of vision.
Diagnosis
-
Orbital lymphoma can be diagnosed by biopsy with histopathologic and immunohistochemical analysis.
source quote
This tumor can be diagnosed by biopsy with histopathologic and immunohistochemical analysis.
-
Melanomas can be detected during a routine test using an ophthalmoscope.
source quote
the person does not know there is a tumor until an ophthalmologist or optometrist looks into the eye with an ophthalmoscope during a routine test
-
A white or yellow dot instead of the red eye reflex in photographs can indicate a tumor.
source quote
normal healthy eyes would have the red eye reflex, but a white/yellow dot instead of the red eye reflex can indicate a tumor or some other kind of eye disease.
Treatment
-
Laser therapy is used in treatment.
source quote
Laser therapy
-
Brachytherapy (episcleral plaque therapy) is the most common radiation treatment for eye melanoma.
source quote
Brachytherapy (episcleral plaque therapy) - referred to as "the most common radiation treatment for eye melanoma.
-
Radiotherapy type is chosen based on the size and location of the tumor.
source quote
Radiotherapy - The ophthalmologist decides in conjunction with the radiation oncologist which type of radiation therapy is most suitable
-
Proton therapy uses protons instead of X-rays and is used for larger tumors or those near the optic nerve.
source quote
Proton therapy – A type of radiation therapy that uses protons instead of X-rays.
-
Enucleation involves the removal of the eye while leaving muscles and eyelids intact.
source quote
Enucleation of the eye - Removal of the eye, but the muscles and eyelids are left intact.
-
Evisceration is the removal of the eye contents, leaving the sclera.
source quote
Evisceration - Removal of the eye contents, leaving the sclera or the white part of the eye.
-
Exenteration is the removal of the eye and all orbital contents.
source quote
Exenteration - Removal of the eye, all orbital contents, which can involve the eyelids as well.
-
Iridectomy is the removal of the affected piece of the iris.
source quote
Iridectomy - Removal of the affected piece of the iris
-
Choroidectomy is the removal of the choroid layer.
source quote
Choroidectomy - Removal of the choroid layer
-
Iridocyclectomy is the removal of the iris plus the ciliary body muscle.
source quote
Iridocyclectomy - Removal of the iris plus the ciliary body muscle.
-
Eyewall resection involves cutting into the eye to remove a tumor.
source quote
Eyewall resection - Cutting into the eye to remove a tumor e.g. melanoma.
-
Chemotherapy is used in treatment.
source quote
Chemotherapy
Red flags
-
Any spot which continues to grow on the iris and the conjunctiva should be checked out.
source quote
Any spot which continues to grow on the iris and the conjunctiva should be checked out.
-
Photos of a child with a white/yellow dot instead of the red eye reflex should be evaluated by an eye doctor.
source quote
Any photos of a child/children which have a white/yellow dot instead of the red eye reflex should be evaluated by an eye doctor.
Prognosis
Early detection of retinoblastoma has allowed for cures exceeding 95%.
AI-synthesized from the Wikipedia article “Eye neoplasm”. Not medical advice.
Verify source →
| Eye neoplasm | |
|---|---|
| Other names | Ocular tumor |
| Melanotic sarcoma through the conjunctiva and sclerotic along the lower border of the cornea | |
| Specialty | Oncology |
| Symptoms | Vision problems (such as blurry or distorted vision), floaters, bulging of the eye, change in eyeball position within socket, growing dark spot on the iris or white part of the eye. [1] |
| Treatment | Brachytherapy (episcleral plaque therapy), proton therapy, chemotherapy, enucleation, Laser Therapy, among others. [2] |
| Frequency | ~3,200 new cases per year in the United States[3] |
| Deaths | ~530 deaths per year in the United States[4] |
An eye neoplasm is a rare type of tumor of the eye.[5][6] Eye neoplasms can affect all parts of the eye, and can either be benign (noncancerous) or malignant (cancerous), in which case it is known as eye cancer.[7] Eye cancers can be primary (starts within the eye) or metastatic cancer (spread to the eye from another organ). The two most common cancers that spread to the eye from another organ are breast cancer and lung cancer.[6] Other less common sites of origin include the prostate, kidney, thyroid, skin, colon and blood or bone marrow.
Malignant (cancerous)
The most common eyelid tumor is called basal cell carcinoma. This tumor can grow around the eye but rarely spreads to other parts of the body. Other types of common eyelid cancers include squamous carcinoma, sebaceous carcinoma and melanoma. The most common orbital malignancy is orbital lymphoma. This tumor can be diagnosed by biopsy with histopathologic and immunohistochemical analysis. Most patients with orbital lymphoma can be offered chemotherapy or radiation therapy.[citation needed]
Adults
- The most common malignant primary intraocular tumor in adults is uveal melanoma. These tumors can occur in the choroid, iris and ciliary body. The latter are sometimes called iris or ciliary body melanoma.
- The next most common is primary intraocular lymphoma (PIOL) which is usually non-Hodgkin's, large cell lymphoma of the B-cell type, although T cell lymphomas have also been described.[citation needed]
Children
- The most common malignant intraocular tumor in children is retinoblastoma, affecting approximately 325 children per year in North America. Early detection has allowed for cures exceeding 95%.[8]
- The second most common is medulloepithelioma (also called diktyoma) which can occur in the ciliary body and the uvea of the eye.
Benign (noncancerous)
Orbital dermoid cysts are benign choristomas which are typically found at the junction of sutures, most commonly at the fronto-zygomatic suture. Large deep orbital dermoid cysts can cause pressure effects on the muscles and optic nerve, leading to diplopia and loss of vision.[citation needed]
- Melanomas (choroidal, ciliary body and uveal) - In the early stages there may be no symptoms (the person does not know there is a tumor until an ophthalmologist or optometrist looks into the eye with an ophthalmoscope during a routine test). As the tumor grows, symptoms can be blurred vision, decreased vision, double vision, eventual vision loss and if they continue to grow the tumor can break past the retina causing retinal detachment. Sometimes the tumor can be visible through the pupil.
- A nevus is a benign, freckle in the eye. These should be checked out and regular checks on the eye done to ensure it has not turned into a melanoma.
- Iris and conjuctival tumors (melanomas) - Present as a dark spot. Any spot which continues to grow on the iris and the conjunctiva should be checked out.
- Retinoblastoma - Strabismus (crossed eyes), a whitish or yellowish glow through the pupil, decreasing/loss of vision, sometimes the eye may be red and painful. Retinoblastoma can occur in one or both eyes. This tumor occurs in babies and young children. It is called RB for short. Check photographs, normal healthy eyes would have the red eye reflex, but a white/yellow dot instead of the red eye reflex can indicate a tumor or some other kind of eye disease. Any photos of a child/children which have a white/yellow dot instead of the red eye reflex should be evaluated by an eye doctor.
Classification
Choroidal tumors
- Choroidal hemangioma[9]
- Choroidal melanoma[10]
- Choroidal metastasis[11]
- Choroidal nevus[12]
- Choroidal osteoma[13]
- Ciliary body melanoma[14]
- The nevus of Ota[15]
Conjunctival tumors
- Conjunctival Kaposi's sarcoma[16]
- Epibulbar dermoid[17]
- Malignant [18]
- Lymphoma of the conjunctiva[19]
- Melanoma and with atypia[20]
- [21]
- Pingueculum[22]
- Pterygium[23]
- Squamous carcinoma and intraepithelial neoplasia of the conjunctiva[24]
The following are used in treatment:
- Laser therapy[25]
- Brachytherapy (episcleral plaque therapy) - referred to as "the most common radiation treatment for eye melanoma. Studies have shown that it is as effective as removing the eye with surgery (enucleation)."[26]
- Radiotherapy - The ophthalmologist decides in conjunction with the radiation oncologist which type of radiation therapy is most suitable, based on size and location of the tumour. Today, modern radiation treatment modalities, such as proton therapy, are likely to be chosen, for providing superior accuracy in dose delivery, helping to spare healthy tissue and the sensitive optic nerves.[27]
- Proton therapy – A type of radiation therapy that uses protons instead of X-rays. "for eye melanomas, proton beam radiation therapy might be a better option than brachytherapy if the tumor cannot be completely covered with a plaque because of its size, shape, or location. For example, it’s used more often for larger tumors or tumors close to the optic nerve."[28]
- Enucleation of the eye - Removal of the eye, but the muscles and eyelids are left intact. An implant is inserted, then the person wears a conformer shield and later the person will have their prosthesis made and fitted (the prosthesis is made by an ocularist and is made to look like the person's real eye)[citation needed]
- Evisceration - Removal of the eye contents, leaving the sclera or the white part of the eye.[citation needed]
- Exenteration - Removal of the eye, all orbital contents, which can involve the eyelids as well. A special prosthesis is made to cover the defect and improve appearance.[citation needed]
- Iridectomy - Removal of the affected piece of the iris[citation needed]
- - Removal of the choroid layer (the vascular tissue sandwiched between the sclera and the retina)[citation needed]
- - Removal of the iris plus the ciliary body muscle.[citation needed]
- - Cutting into the eye to remove a tumor e.g. melanoma. This operation can be quite difficult to perform.[citation needed]
- Chemotherapy[citation needed]
Ocular oncology is the branch of medicine dealing with tumors relating to the eye and its adnexa.[citation needed]
Ocular oncology takes into consideration that the primary requirement for patients is preservation of life by removal of the tumor, along with best efforts directed at preservation of useful vision, followed by cosmetic appearance. The treatment of ocular tumors is generally a multi-specialty effort, requiring coordination between the ophthalmologist, medical oncologist, radiation specialist, head & neck surgeon/ENT surgeon, pediatrician/internal medicine/hospitalist and a multidisciplinary team of support staff and nurses.[citation needed]
- ↑ "Signs and Symptoms of Eye Cancer". American Cancer Society. American Cancer Society. Retrieved 2026-01-21.
- ↑ "Radiation Therapy for Eye Cancer". American Cancer Society. American Cancer Society. Retrieved 2026-01-21.
- ↑ "Key Statistics for Eye Cancer". American Cancer Society. American Cancer Society. Retrieved 2026-01-21.
- ↑ "Key Statistics for Eye Cancer". American Cancer Society. American Cancer Society. Retrieved 2026-01-21.
- ↑ "Neoplasm of the eye". MedGen. NCBI.
- 1 2 Houghton, Odette; Gordon, Kathleen (2020). "Ocular Tumors". Abeloff's Clinical Oncology. pp. 968–998.e9. doi:10.1016/B978-0-323-47674-4.00064-5. ISBN 978-0-323-47674-4.
- ↑ "Ocular cancer". MedGen. NCBI.
- ↑ Kim, Jonathan W; Abramson, David H; Dunkel, Ira J (2007). "Current Management Strategies for Intraocular Retinoblastoma". Drugs. 67 (15): 2173–2185. doi:10.2165/00003495-200767150-00005. PMID 17927283.
- ↑ "Choroidal Hemangioma - The Eye Cancer Network". Archived from the original on 2010-07-04. Retrieved 2010-03-10.
- ↑ "Choroidal Melanoma - The Eye Cancer Network". Archived from the original on 2010-04-21. Retrieved 2010-03-10.
- ↑ "Choroidal Metastasis - The Eye Cancer Network". Archived from the original on 2010-09-29. Retrieved 2010-03-10.
- ↑ "Choroidal Nevus - The Eye Cancer Network". Archived from the original on 2009-10-09. Retrieved 2010-03-10.
- ↑ "Choroidal Osteoma - The Eye Cancer Network". Archived from the original on 2009-12-20. Retrieved 2010-03-10.
- ↑ "Ciliary Body Melanoma - The Eye Cancer Network". Archived from the original on 2009-08-20. Retrieved 2010-03-10.
- ↑ "The Nevus of Ota - The Eye Cancer Network". Archived from the original on 2009-08-20. Retrieved 2010-03-10.
- ↑ "Conjunctival Kaposi's Sarcoma - The Eye Cancer Network". Archived from the original on 2010-11-24. Retrieved 2010-03-10.
- ↑ "Epibulbar Dermoid - The Eye Cancer Network". Archived from the original on 2010-03-02. Retrieved 2010-03-10.
- ↑ "General Information: Malignant Conjunctival Tumors - The Eye Cancer Network". Archived from the original on 2010-11-24. Retrieved 2010-03-10.
- ↑ "Lymphoma of the Conjunctiva - The Eye Cancer Network". Archived from the original on 2009-08-20. Retrieved 2010-03-10.
- ↑ "Melanoma and PAM with Atypia - The Eye Cancer Network". Archived from the original on 2009-08-20. Retrieved 2010-03-10.
- ↑ "Pigmented Conjunctival Tumors - The Eye Cancer Network". Archived from the original on 2009-08-20. Retrieved 2010-03-10.
- ↑ "Pingueculum - The Eye Cancer Network". Archived from the original on 2009-08-20. Retrieved 2010-03-10.
- ↑ "Pterygium - The Eye Cancer Network". Archived from the original on 2009-08-20. Retrieved 2010-03-10.
- ↑ "Squamous Carcinoma and Intraepithelial Neoplasia of the Conjunctiva - The Eye Cancer Network". Archived from the original on 2009-08-20. Retrieved 2010-03-10.
- ↑ Cui, Yanyan; Yin, Shan; Qin, Xuejiao; Jiao, Wanzhen; Ren, Anqi; Wang, Fei; Zhao, Bojun (2022). "Advances in the treatment of intraocular malignancies: A literature review". Frontiers in Medicine. 9 975565. doi:10.3389/fmed.2022.975565. ISSN 2296-858X. PMC 9624174. PMID 36330064.
- ↑ "Radiation Therapy for Eye Cancer". American Cancer Society. American Cancer Society. Retrieved 2026-01-21.
Brachytherapy (also called ocular brachytherapy or episcleral plaque therapy) is the most common radiation treatment for eye melanoma, and studies have shown that it is as effective as removing the eye with surgery (enucleation).
- ↑ Selby, B. P.; Sakas, G.; Walter, S.; Groch, W. -D.; Stilla, U. (2007). "Pose Estimation of Eyes for Particle Beam Treatment of Tumors". Bildverarbeitung für die Medizin 2007. Informatik aktuell. pp. 368–373. doi:10.1007/978-3-540-71091-2_74. ISBN 978-3-540-71090-5.
- ↑ "Radiation Therapy for Eye Cancer". American Cancer Society. American Cancer Society. Retrieved 2026-01-21.