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Unsolved Mystery: What Causes Pigmented Eye Spots to Transform into Deadly Melanoma?
Pigmented spots on the eyes, known as choroidal nevus, are benign (non-cancerous) melanocytic tumors. These pigmented spots are characterized by bluish or greenish-gray pigmented lesions that are usually located on the front or back of the eyeball. Although most choroidal nevi are asymptomatic, uncomfortable symptoms may occur in some cases. With in-depth research, scientists are beginning to explore the reasons why choroidal nevus develops into fatal melanoma to ensure early diagnosis and timely treatment.
“If the development of choroidal nevus is not monitored in time, it may evolve into more serious health problems.”
Epidemiology of choroidal nevus
According to available data, the prevalence of choroidal nevus among U.S. adults over the age of 40 is approximately 4.7%. Interestingly, data across racial groups show that the prevalence is relatively high among whites (4.1%), while relatively low among Chinese (0.4%), blacks (0.7%), and Hispanics (1.2%). However, these differences are not statistically significant. Of note, prevalence rates vary with age, with higher disparities among those aged 55 to 74 years.
Symptoms and diagnosis
The symptoms of choroidal nevus are usually related to their location. For example, if the mole is located below the center of the retina, the patient may experience blurred vision. When choroidal nevus worsens, it may lead to fluid exudation, abnormal development of vascular tissue, and even retinal detachment.
Diagnosis of choroidal nevus usually relies on ophthalmic examination and advanced imaging techniques such as fundus photography, ultrasound, and optical coherence tomography (OCT). These techniques can help doctors clearly observe the characteristics of moles and make correct assessments.
"Prior to formal diagnosis, most choroidal nevi are discovered only during routine eye exams."
Types and risks of choroidal nevus
There are different types of choroidal nevus, including halo choroidal nevus, giant choroidal nevus, and choroidal nevus with a hard mass. Each of these types has its potential risk for malignant transformation, and giant choroidal nevus in particular has been found to be associated with a risk of melanoma development. Studies show that about 18% of giant choroidal nevi will transform into melanoma within 10 years.
During the diagnosis process, you need to be extra vigilant if a choroidal nevus shows too many risk characteristics, such as a thick tumor or symptoms such as decreased vision.
“If choroidal nevus develops under the influence of three or more adverse risk factors, the risk of transforming into melanoma may even exceed 50%.”
Causes of transformation into melanoma
Scientists are still conducting in-depth research on why choroidal nevus turns into melanoma. Although uncommon, choroidal nevus has a relatively low rate of malignant transformation, with approximately one in 9,000 Americans developing melanoma. For some patients, genetic makeup and environmental exposure may play important roles in this process.
Monitoring and Treatment
Choroidal nevus usually does not require treatment because in most cases, they do not cause any unpleasant symptoms. However, experts recommend that adults over the age of 40 receive regular eye exams to detect potential problems early. If a choroidal nevus changes and begins to affect vision, it may be treated with anti-VEGF medications.
"Artificial intelligence technology is also considered to be potentially useful in the diagnosis of melanoma and choroidal nevus."
With a deeper understanding of choroidal nevus and their potential for malignant transformation, we may be able to identify the problem early and develop more effective treatment options. However, there are still many unsolved mysteries that we need to explore together: Is it possible that new diagnostic or therapeutic methods can effectively prevent the occurrence of melanoma in the future?
