Bilateral Malignant Melanoma of the Uvea

This study, conducted between July 1988 and July 2001, examined 2,461 patients with uveal melanoma and identified 5 cases (0.2%) of bilateral uveal melanoma, a condition considered extremely rare. The expected incidence of bilateral cases was less than one, suggesting a higher occurrence than chance would predict. The interval between the first and second melanoma diagnoses ranged from 0 to 6 years, with a median of 2 years. No patients exhibited ocular melanocytosis, a condition often associated with bilateral melanoma. The study suggested that unidentified genetic mutations might contribute to the pathogenesis of bilateral uveal melanoma, highlighting the importance of thorough examinations of both eyes in affected patients.