Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to compare uveal melanomas (UMs) in men and women.
Methods
The Liverpool Ocular Oncology Centre (LOOC) database was reviewed. Patients treated for UM at the LOOC between 1993 and 2010 were selected. Differences between sexes were identified using the χ2-test for categorical variables and the Mann–Whitney test for continuous variables.
Results
The 3380 patients comprised 1685 women and 1695 men. The tumours were considered clinically to have arisen in choroid in 89.5%, ciliary body in 5.3%, and iris in 5.2%. Tumours in women were less likely to originate in choroid (87.2 vs91.7%; P<0.001) and showed more circumferential spread in ciliary body (P<0.001) and iris (P=0.003). Tumours in men were more likely to extend to within 3 mm of optic disc or fovea (46.3 vs39.0%, P<0.001), showing more extensive optic-disc involvement (P<0.001). The median largest basal tumour diameter was 12.2 mm in men and 11.9 mm in women (P=0.001). The tumour thickness had a median of 4.4 mm and 3.8 mm in men and women, respectively (P=0.015). The 180 ciliary body tumours occurred in 112 women and 68 men. In these, the prevalence of extraocular spread was higher in women (19.6 vs8.8%; P=0.052). The 175 iris melanomas were more common in women than men (103 vs72, respectively).
Conclusions
In men, UMs tend to be larger and more posterior than in women.
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Acknowledgements
We are grateful to Mr Gary Cheetham for database management, Dr Ian Campbell for statistical advice, Miss Nicola Longrigg for administrative assistance, and the National Specialist Commissioning Team for supporting our oncology service. This study is sponsored by the Research and Development Unit of the Royal Liverpool University Hospital.
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Presented orally at the Ophthalmic Oncolology Group Meeting, Crete, October 2010.
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Damato, B., Coupland, S. Differences in uveal melanomas between men and women from the British Isles. Eye 26, 292–299 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1038/eye.2011.272
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/eye.2011.272
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