Eye neoplasm

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Eye Neoplasm Microchapters

Patient Information

Overview

Classification

Choroidal Tumors
Conjunctival Tumors

Causes

Differential Diagnosis

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Synonyms and keywords: Eye neoplasm; eye cancer

Overview

Ocular oncology is the branch of medicine dealing with tumors relating to the eye and its adnexa. Eye cancer can affect all parts of the eye.

Classification

Choroidal tumors

Conjunctival tumors

File:Conjunctival carcinoma - 6.jpg
Advanced conjunctival carcinoma protruding through the palpebral fissure.

Epidemiology and Demographics

Origin and location

Eye cancers can be primary (starts within the eye) and metastatic cancer (spread to the eye from another organ). The two most common cancers that spread to the eye from another organ are breast cancer and lung cancer. Other less common sites of origin include the prostate, kidney, thyroid, skin, colon and blood or bone marrow.

Types

Tumors in the eye and orbit can be benign like dermoid cysts, or malignant like rhabdomyosarcoma and retinoblastoma.

Malignant

The most common eyelid tumor is called basal cell carcinoma. This tumor can grow around the eye but rarely spreads to other parts of the body. Other types of common eyelid cancers include squamous carcinoma, sebaceous carcinoma and malignant melanoma. The most common orbital malignancy is orbital lymphoma. This tumor can be diagnosed by biopsy with histopathologic and immunohistochemical analysis. Most patients with orbital lymphoma can be offered chemotherapy or radiation therapy.

Adults
Children
  • The most common malignant intraocular tumor in children is retinoblastoma, affecting approximately 325 children per year in North America. Early detection has allowed for cures exceeding 95%.
  • The second most common is medulloepithelioma (also called diktyoma) which can occur in the ciliary body and the uvea of the eye.

Benign

Orbital dermoid cysts are benign choristomas which are typically found at the junction of sutures, most commonly at the fronto-zygomatic suture. Large deep orbital dermoid cysts can cause pressure effects on the muscles and optic nerve, leading to diplopia and loss of vision.

Diagnosis

  • Nevus - Are benign, freckle in the eye. These should be checked out and regular checks on the eye done to ensure it hasn't turned into a melanoma.
  • Iris and conjuctival tumors (melanomas) - Presents as a dark spot. Any spot which continues to grow on the iris and the conjunctiva should be checked out.
  • Retinoblastoma - Strabismus (crossed eyes), a whitish or yellowish glow through the pupil, decreasing/loss of vision, sometimes the eye may be red and painful. Retinoblastoma can occur in one or both eyes. This tumor occurs in babies and young children. It is called RB for short. Check photographs, normal healthy eyes would have the red eye reflex, but a white/yellow dot instead of the red eye reflex can indicate a tumor or some other kind of eye disease. Any photos of a child/children which have a white/yellow dot instead of the red eye reflex should be checked out.

Treatment

Surgery

  • Laser therapy
  • Plaque therapy
  • Radiotherapy
  • Enucleation of the Eye - Removal of the eye, but the muscles and eyelids are left intact. An implant is inserted, then the person wears a conformer shield and later the person will have their prosthesis made and fitted (the prosthesis is made by someone called an ocularist and is made to look like their real eye)
  • Evisceration - Removal of the eye contents, leaving the sclera or the white part of the eye.
  • Exenteration - Removal of the eye, all orbital contents, which can involve the eyelids as well. A special prosthesis is made to cover the defect and improve appearance.
  • Iridectomy - Removal of the affected piece of the iris
  • Choroidectomy - Removal of the choroid layer (the vascular tissue sandwiched between the sclera and the retina)
  • Iridocyclectomy - Removal of the iris plus the ciliary body muscle.
  • Eyewall resection - Cutting into the eye to remove a tumor e.g. melanoma. This operation can be quite difficult to perform.


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