Abstract
Ocular melanomas are eye tumors composed of melanocytic cells with malignant characteristics. Most ocular melanomas arise from uveal melanocytes distributed throughout the stroma of the choroid, ciliary body, and iris; conjuctival melanocytes may also be the cells of origin for melanomas [1]. Since conjunctival and uveal melanocytes share a common embryologic origin with melanocytes of the skin from the neural crest [2], investigators have suggested the possibility of similar etiologies for ocular and cutaneous melanoma [3, 4]. While both melanomas share certain clinical and epidemiologic characteristics, other factors demonstrate no correlation. This issue needs further investigation, as discussed in this review.
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Hyman, L., Leske, M.C., Polednak, A.P. (1987). Epidemiology of Ocular Melanoma. In: Nathanson, L. (eds) Basic and Clinical Aspects of Malignant Melanoma. Cancer Treatment and Research, vol 35. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-2043-2_4
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