Uveal melanoma among Finnish children and young adults

To characterize uveal melanoma (UM) among children and young adults in a high-risk region for this cancer.

The medical records of consecutive patients <25 years of age with UM treated from 1962 to 2009 were retrospectively reviewed. The following data were collected: sex, tumor location and size, tumor node metastasis (TNM) stage, vision, and survival. We compared data with five previous series reporting 70 matching patients and combined them for meta-analysis of survival.

Of 1,185 UM patients, 18 were eligible. UM frequency in patients <25 years of age was 1.3%; in those ≤20 years of age, 0.6%. Median follow-up time was longer than in the previous series combined (11.6 vs 5.4 years). Females outnumbered males 2:1. Median tumor thickness was higher in our series (8 vs 5 mm) and increased with age. Median tumor diameter was similar to previous series (12 mm). Of our patients, 83% were stage II; 17%, stage III. In previous series, 26% were stage I; 64%, stage II; and 10%, stage III. Survival was 76% at 5 and 10 years, compared to 98% in previous series. By meta-analysis, mortality increased with stage, age > 17 years, female sex, and if the ciliary body was involved.

Tumor stage was higher than in other regions. Age >17 years, female sex, and tumor stage adversely influenced survival among patients <25 years of age with UM.