Abstract
Choroidal melanomas are the most common ocular malignant tumors worldwide. The onset of such tumors is insidious, such that affected patients often have no pain or obvious discomfort during early stages. Notably, enucleation is required for patients with a severe choroidal melanoma, which can seriously impact their quality of life. Moreover, choroidal melanomas metastasize early, often to the liver; this eventually causes affected patients to die of liver failure. Therefore, early diagnosis of choroidal melanomas is extremely important. Unfortunately, an early choroidal melanoma is easily confused with a choroidal nevus, which is the most common benign tumor of the eye and does not often require surgical treatment. This review discusses recent advances in the use of multimodal and molecular imaging to identify choroidal melanomas and choroidal nevi, detect early metastasis, and diagnose patients with choroidal melanomas.
Highlights
Choroidal melanomas are the most common intraocular malignant tumors worldwide, as well as the second most common type of malignant melanoma
This review focuses on the important roles of multimodal and molecular imaging in the identification and monitoring of choroidal nevi, early detection of choroidal melanomas, and recognition of metastasis
Pathological examination is considered the gold standard for cancer diagnosis; far, invasive examination is not recommended for early choroidal melanomas
Summary
Choroidal melanomas are the most common intraocular malignant tumors worldwide, as well as the second most common type of malignant melanoma. The current consensus is that choroidal melanomas and cutaneous melanomas are different types of tumors [1] Their causes, pathogenesis, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis are quite different [2]. The prognosis of a choroidal melanoma is closely linked with its cytogenetic type and histological grade, which is a distinguishing feature from other cancers [9]. Some results have implied that early metastasis occurs 5 years before the diagnosis and treatment of a choroidal melanoma [3]. Because of the insidious onset and poor prognosis of choroidal melanomas, early diagnosis of affected patients is extremely important [14]. Early non-invasive diagnosis is important for timely detection of choroidal melanomas and prediction of patient prognosis. This review focuses on the important roles of multimodal and molecular imaging (e.g., positron emission tomography/ computed tomography [PET/CT]) in the identification and monitoring of choroidal nevi, early detection of choroidal melanomas, and recognition of metastasis
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