MALIGNANT MELANOMAS OF THE IRIS

The recognition of iris melanoma is important because a number of beni gn lesions clinically resemble these tumors. In this article, the epid emiological, clinical and histopathological features, treatment modali ties, and prognosis of 41 iris melanoma patients, seen between 1964 an d 1996 were evaluated. Of the patients, 20 were men and 21 women. Thei r mean age was 44.6 years. After determining the size, localization, a nd extension of the tumor, the management of choice was observation in 9, sector iridectomy in 15, iridocyclectomy in 6 and enucleation in 1 1 of the patients. During the follow-up, enucleation was also required in 6 and iridocyclectomy in 1 of the 7 patients who were in the obser vation or sector iridectomy group initially. Histopathologic examinati on revealed spindle cell in 27, mixed cell in 6 and epithelioid cell t ype melanomas in 2 of the 35 cases who underwent iridectomy, iridocycl ectomy, and/or enucleation. The mean follow-up was 3.2 years and the m ortality rate was found to be 2.4% during this period. One patient who died of metastases had epithelioid cell type melanoma. Jpn J Ophthalm ol 1998;42:281-285 (C) 1998 Japanese Ophthalmological Society.