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Melanoma del ojo - Overview

Nombres alternativos

Tumor ocular; Melanoma maligno de la coroides; Melanoma maligno del ojo; Melanoma ocular

Definición:

Es el cáncer que se presenta en diversas partes del ojo.

Causas:

El melanoma es un tipo de cáncer muy agresivo que se puede diseminar rápidamente.

El melanoma del ojo puede afectar varias partes del ojo, como:

  • La coroides
  • El cuerpo ciliar
  • La conjuntiva
  • El párpado
  • El iris
  • La órbita

La capa de la coroides es la localización más probable del melanoma en el ojo.

El cáncer puede estar únicamente en el ojo o se puede diseminar (hacer metástasis) a otro lugar en el cuerpo, con mayor frecuencia el hígado. El melanoma también puede comenzar sobre la piel u otros órganos en el cuerpo y diseminarse al ojo.

El melanoma es el tipo de tumor ocular más común en adultos; aún así, el melanoma primario del ojo es raro.

Un factor de riesgo importante es la exposición excesiva a la luz del sol. La ocurrencia del melanoma ha aumentando considerablemente en las últimas décadas, resultando afectadas con mayor frecuencia las personas de ojos azules y piel clara.

  • Reviewed last on: 8/18/2009
  • Daniel E. Bustos, MD, MS, Private Practice specializing in Comprehensive Ophthalmology in Eugene, OR. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

Referencias

In: Abeloff MD, Armitage JO, Niederhuber JE, Kastan MB, McKena WG, eds. Clinical Oncology. 4th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Elsevier Churchill Livingstone; 2008:chap 73.

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