[Epidemiological aspects of malignant melanoma of the uvea in Tunisia]

to assess clinical factors that may influence the prognosis of malignant melanoma of the uvea

We conducted a retrospective study from January 1990 to December 2013, involving 80 patients suffering from malignant melanoma of the uvea. We determined the location, the size, the tumor thickness, the clinicopathological aspect, the degree of pigmentation of the uveal melanoma, and associated signs Results: Factors significantly associated with poor prognosis were: a tumor location (p = 0.01), the infiltrative or fungus aspect (p = 0.001), a diameter equal to or larger than 10 mm (p = 0.003), the thickness greater than or equal to 5 mm (p = 10-3), achromatic or hyperpigmented melanomas (p = 0.02) and retinal detachment (p = 10-3).

Clinical prognostic factors are important to know because they determine the evolutionary profile and the metastatic potential of the uveal melanoma.