Influence of Age on Prognosis of Young Patients with Uveal Melanoma: A Matched Retrospective Cohort Study

Abstract

PURPOSE: To determine the influence of patient age on life prognosis in patients with uveal melanoma. DESIGN: Matched retrospective cohort study of 122 patients in each age category (young [≤20 years], mid-adults [21-60 years], older adults [>60 years]). RESULTS: Kaplan-Meier estimates of tumor-related metastasis at 3, 5, and 10 years were 1%, 8%, and 8% in young; 8%, 11%, and 26% in mid-adults; and 13%, 16%, and 24% in older adults. After exclusion of iris melanoma, Kaplan-Meier estimates of tumor-related metastasis at 3, 5, and 10 years were 2%, 11%, and 18% in young; 9%, 14%, and 21% in mid-adults; and 9%, 34%, and 33% in older adults. Risk factors for metastasis based on multivariate analysis included increasing age in young (p=0.05, hazard ratio [HR] 1.33), male gender in mid-adults (p=0.046, HR 4.23), and larger tumor basal diameter in mid-adults (p=0.002, HR 1.37) and older adults (p=0.001, HR 1.30). After adjusting for tumor diameter, the metastatic rate was lower in young patients compared to mid-adults (0=0.042, HR 3.00) and older adults (p=0.007, HR 4.20). CONCLUSIONS: Younger patient age at the time of diagnosis of uveal melanoma is associated with lower rate of metastasis compared to mid-adults and older adults.