Should I be worried about choroidal nevus?

Should I be worried if I have a choroidal nevus? Choroidal nevi are common and occur in about 5-10% of the population. Even though most nevi do not affect vision or cause any problems, they should still be watched regularly. Just like a skin mole can become cancerous, an eye nevus could do the same.

How serious is choroidal nevus?

Is a choroidal nevus dangerous? Most choroidal nevi remain benign and cause no problems. Just like freckles and moles on your skin, a choroidal nevus can rarely grow into a malignant melanoma. About one in five thousand nevi grows into a melanoma.

Is it common to have a choroidal nevus?

Wills Eye Hospital, which sees a vere large number of cases, states, “Choroidal nevus is the most common intraocular tumor, occurring in about seven percent of adults.” Suffice it to say, approximately 1 in 10 people have these freckles. They are never present at birth, though.

Is choroidal nevus rare?

Choroidal nevi are relatively common and occur in approximately 6.5% of the Caucasian population and about 3-4% of the general population.

What percentage of choroidal nevus becomes melanoma?

It has been estimated that 6% of the white population harbors a choroidal nevus13 and that 1 in approximately 8000 of these nevi transform into melanoma. Further thought into age-adjusted lifetime risk revealed that by age 80 years, the risk for transformation is 0.78% and the risk would thereafter approach 1%.

Can a choroidal nevus be removed?

Treatments. A benign choroidal nevus requires no treatment and there is no way to safely remove them. Since a choroidal nevus can turn into a choroidal melanoma, it is reasonable to have it periodically observed by your eye care professional.

Should I worry about a freckle in my eye?

A freckle in your eye might seem odd, but they’re actually common and usually harmless. If you have one, your eye doctor may want to watch it over time. It’s rare, but they can turn into a type of cancer called melanoma.

How long does it take choroidal melanoma to spread?

The median time from diagnosis of choroidal melanoma to diagnosis of metastasis was 44.8 months (3.7 years). Ten of the 13 patients with metastasis (76.9%) were diagnosed within the first 5 years after treatment (irradiation).

How do you get rid of a nevus in your eye?

If a nevus does need to be removed due to any complications, melanoma, or suspicion of melanoma, this is done with surgery. Depending on the individual situation, local excision (using a very small blade) or argon laser photoablation (using a laser to remove tissue) are possible options.

How long can you live with choroidal melanoma?

Choroidal melanoma is the most common type of intraocular melanoma. The 5-year relative survival rate for people with small choroidal melanoma is 84%. The 5-year relative survival rate for people with medium choroidal melanoma is 68%. The 5-year relative survival rate for people with large choroidal melanoma is 47%.

What is a choroidal nevus?

The choroid is between the sclera and the retina. The retina is the thin layer of tissue that lines the back of your eye. It captures light and sends messages to the brain. A choroidal nevus is not cancer (benign), but it can become cancer over time. This kind of cancer is called choroidal melanoma. Choroidal nevus is a congenital condition.

What is a suspicious choroidal nevus on fluorescein angiography?

This image demonstrates how a suspicious choroidal nevus can demonstrate focal leakage on fluorescein angiography. Choroidal nevus is typically a pigmented tumor of the blood vessel layer (choroid) beneath the retina. A choroidal nevus is typically gray but can be brown, yellow or variably pigmented.

Can multimodal imaging identify risk factors for choroidal nevus transformation into melanoma?

Purpose: To use multimodal imaging for identification of risk factors for choroidal nevus transformation into melanoma. Methods: Retrospective chart review of 3806 consecutive choroidal nevi with imaging and 2355 choroidal nevi with additional follow up to identify factors predictive of transformation of choroidal nevus into melanoma.