Specificities of Ophthalmic Tumors: Usefulness of A National Network

Abstract

We describe the most frequent malignant intraocular tumors, conjunctival tumors and some lids and orbital tumors. Primary intraocular malignant tumors are retinoblastoma in children and uveal melanoma in adults. For uveal melanoma, the liver is the most frequent site of metastasis and this is why it is justified to prescribe liver ultrasonography every 6 months to these patients. Metastatic tumors can occur in the uvea and more frequently in the posterior part called the choroid. They are more frequent after breast cancer and lung cancer. Conjunctival tumors can be epithelial (benign papillomas and epidermoid carcinomas) or melanocytic (benign naevi and melanomas) and sometimes from sebaceous gland origin (sebaceous carcinomas). Conjunctival malignancies can metastasize to the regional lymph nodes and other organs. All these tumors are rare tumors and need to be managed in expert centers. We describe the psychological consequences and the French national network organization for treatment of uveal malignant melanoma.