Stages of intraocular melanoma

Once intraocular melanoma is found (diagnosed), more tests will be done to find out exactly what kind of tumor the patient has and whether cancer cells have spread to other parts of the body. This is called staging. A doctor needs to know the stage to plan treatment. Intraocular melanoma is staged based on the area of the eye where the tumor is found and the size of the tumor.

Iris melanoma

Intraocular melanomas of the iris occur in the front colored part of the eye. Iris melanomas usually grow slowly and do not usually spread to other parts of the body.

Ciliary body melanoma

Intraocular melanomas of the ciliary body occur in the back part of the eye.

Small choroidal melanoma

Intraocular melanomas of the choroid occur in the back part of the eye. They are grouped by the size of the tumor.

Small size choroidal melanoma is 3 millimeters or less in thickness.

Medium and large choroidal melanoma

Intraocular melanomas of the choroid occur in the back part of the eye. They are grouped by the size of the tumor.

Medium and large size choroidal melanomas are more than 3 millimeters in thickness.

Extraocular extension and metastatic intraocular melanoma

The melanoma has spread outside the eye, to the nerve behind the eye (the optic nerve), to the eye socket, or to other parts of the body.

Recurrent intraocular melanoma

Recurrent disease means that the cancer has come back (recurred) after it has been treated.