Uveal melanoma incidence and survival analysis in Portugal between 2013 and 2022

Abstract

PurposeThis study aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the clinical characteristics and epidemiology of uveal melanoma (UM) in the Portuguese population, evaluated at the National Reference Centre (NRC). MethodsA prospective observational study was conducted, involving patients consecutively diagnosed with UM at the Portuguese NRC between July 2013 and December 2022. The study collected data on demographic and tumour characteristics, clinical staging according to the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC), treatment approaches, local disease control, patient survival, and the occurrence of distant metastases. ResultsThe study included a total of 316 patients, 53.8% female. The mean age at diagnosis was 61.8±14.2 years, and 75.0% of patients presented with symptoms. The mean annual age-adjusted incidence of uveal melanoma in Portugal between 2014 and 2022 was 2.4 cases per million (95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.1–2.8). For choroidal/ciliary body tumours, the overall cumulative survival and distant metastases-free survival (DMFS) rates at 5 years were 84.9% (95% CI: 78.7–91.1) and 79.4% (95%CI: 72.8–86.0), respectively. Notably, higher AJCC stages at presentation, the need for enucleation, and increased tumour thickness were associated with lower DSS and DMFS rates. ConclusionThis study represents the most extensive analysis of UM epidemiology within the Portuguese population. The findings underscore the importance of early diagnosis and treatment in UM, as lower AJCC stages and smaller tumour thickness at diagnosis correlate with improved DSS and DMFS.