What is a choroidal melanoma and how is it diagnosed?
Nowadays, most people are familiar with melanoma as a very dangerous type of skin cancer involving the melanocytes that give the skin its pigmented color. Skin melanomas are associated with unprotected exposure to the sun, especially in youth. Unlike skin melanomas, choroidal melanomas have not been linked to sun exposure, but they are more common in persons with lighter skin pigment. Similar to skin melanomas, intraocular melanomas are believed to arise from small benign pigmented areas called nevi. An intraocular nevus is best examined by dilating the pupil of the eye and looking with special lenses. Photographs, including specialized digital imaging, may also be taken to compare to future exams for any changes. If a pigmented area within the eye becomes larger and thicker, an ultrasound is usually performed to measure the area and check for characteristics suspicious for a malignant melanoma. How are choroidal melanomas treated? In the past, the only treatment available for intraocu
