Prevalence of Choroidal Melanoma in a Hill Population of Northern India

Abstract

Aim: To assess prevalence and presentation of choroidal melanoma in a hill population of northern India along with its demographics, features, diagnostics, treatment and outcome with comparison to western population. Method: Choroidal melanoma constitutes most common intraocular malignancy with early appearance in Asian population. This is the 1^st case series from a hill state of Uttarakhand, northern India involving medium to large size tumour with extraocular extension. In this retrospective study we assessed the prevalence, clinical presentation, diagnostic modalities, treatment plan, disease outcome, prognosis with survival and mortality. The study was carried out in time duration from February 2019- March 2021. Results: Data shows the presence of five patients, four male and 1 female in age range of 47-77 years, with median age at 62 years. Patient presented with visual equity in range of 6/18 to perception of light in time range of six months to 2 years. Fundus examination revealed presence of medium to large size choroidal mass with surface pigmentation and serous detachment. Neovascular glaucoma was present in three patients. Three patients underwent brachytherapy with I 125 and Ru 106, two cases responded well to therapy, one case presented with recurrence of tumour and neovascular glaucoma, underwent preenucleation radiation with external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) and the eye was lost following enucleation. Among five patients three underwent enucleation and thereafter were referred to surgical oncology for enlarged regional and cervical chain of lymph nodes for suspected metastasis. Histopathology via fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) or biopsy from whole specimen showed two cases of spindle cell, one of mixed cell variety and two of epitheloid cell type. Two cases of eitheloid cell type and one of spindle cell type needed EBRT as there was extraocular extension. All cases with enucleation were adviced an ocular implant. A diligent post treatment follow was maintained to look out for local recurrence and distant metastasis. Conclusion: Hill states have poor accessibility to healthcare. Our study shows existence of choroidal melanoma may be much larger than anticipated and cases could have been missed, hence making the need for dilated fundus examination a requirement and necessity. Histopathology, serology and imaging are much needed tools for diagnosis and staging of disease along with treatment of choroidal melanoma eventually indicating prognosis, survival and mortality. Treatment modalities as brachytherapy and EBRT are more frequently being used, indicating a shift in treatment more towards organ salvaging and preservation so as to maintain best visual function.