Melanomas of the eye and other noncutaneous sites: epidemiologic aspects

The Third National Cancer Survey, 1969-71, reported 432 patients with noncutaneous melanoma, 79% originating in the eye. As with skin melanoma, ocular tumors were more common in whites than blacks and predominated in females at younger ages and males after middle life. On the other hand, ocular melanoma did not show the strong North-South gradient seen with skin melanoma; this suggested no relation to sunlight exposure.