Ocular melanocytosis and melanoma. 1975

F C Blodi

The hypothesis that ocular melanocytosis is a precancerous condition that may lead to a choroidal melanoma should be seriously questioned for the following reasons: The incidence of malignant degeneration in a hyperpigmented eye is unknown and overreported. If the hypothesis were correct a bilateral melanoma would occasionally occur in patients with bilateral melanosis. No such case has been reported. In patients with unilateral melanosis the blue, unaffected eye may also develop a melanoma. A 67-year-old white woman with one dark and one blue eye provided the first such instance, although previous cases may not have been reported if their histologic picture was not unusual. The incidence of melanoma in our patients with unilateral melanosis was rare compared with the many melanomas developing in normal pigmented eyes (4/418). I found no statistically significant difference in the incidence of choroidal melanomas originating in the hyperpigmented or in the blue eye in patients with unilateral ocular melanocytosis.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008545 Melanoma A malignant neoplasm derived from cells that are capable of forming melanin, which may occur in the skin of any part of the body, in the eye, or, rarely, in the mucous membranes of the genitalia, anus, oral cavity, or other sites. It occurs mostly in adults and may originate de novo or from a pigmented nevus or malignant lentigo. Melanomas frequently metastasize widely, and the regional lymph nodes, liver, lungs, and brain are likely to be involved. The incidence of malignant skin melanomas is rising rapidly in all parts of the world. (Stedman, 25th ed; from Rook et al., Textbook of Dermatology, 4th ed, p2445) Malignant Melanoma,Malignant Melanomas,Melanoma, Malignant,Melanomas,Melanomas, Malignant
D008548 Melanosis Disorders of increased melanin pigmentation that develop without preceding inflammatory disease. Chloasma,Freckles,Melanism,Melasma,Chloasmas,Freckle,Melanoses,Melasmas
D011230 Precancerous Conditions Pathological conditions that tend eventually to become malignant. Preneoplastic Conditions,Condition, Preneoplastic,Conditions, Preneoplastic,Preneoplastic Condition,Condition, Precancerous,Conditions, Precancerous,Precancerous Condition
D002830 Choroid Neoplasms Tumors of the choroid; most common intraocular tumors are malignant melanomas of the choroid. These usually occur after puberty and increase in incidence with advancing age. Most malignant melanomas of the uveal tract develop from benign melanomas (nevi). Choroidal Neoplasms,Choroid Neoplasm,Choroidal Neoplasm,Neoplasm, Choroid,Neoplasm, Choroidal,Neoplasms, Choroid,Neoplasms, Choroidal
D005127 Eye Color Color of the iris. Color, Eye,Colors, Eye,Eye Colors
D005128 Eye Diseases Diseases affecting the eye. Eye Disorders,Eye Disease,Eye Disorder
D005260 Female Females
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000368 Aged A person 65 years of age or older. For a person older than 79 years, AGED, 80 AND OVER is available. Elderly

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