Epidemiological and clinical aspects of uveal melanoma

Uveal melanoma (UM) is a rare cancer whose prognosis remains poor despite the considerable advances in early diagnosis and quality of care achieved in developed countries. However its annual incidence has been rising steadily over the last twenty years. We diagnose 2 to 3 cases of uveal melanoma per year. In the Algerian context we have identified factors that seem to justify our study notably a lack of information on its epidemiology and real difficulties in its management.Our results show that our patients are affected at a younger age in comparison with European and North American populations. The main characteristics of neoformations are greater thickness and smaller diameter with a high proportion of Bruch's lamina rupture.