Eye Cancer - Causes, Signs, Symptoms And Treatment Of Eye Cancer

2024 Author: Josephine Shorter | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 21:43

Causes, symptoms and treatment of eye cancer

Among the malignant neoplasms that can be localized in any organ and system of the human body, eye cancer is much less common than others. This term refers to tumors developing on the conjunctiva, retina, choroid, orbit or appendages of this organ (eyelid, lacrimal glands).

Content:

• Eye Cancer Causes
• Types of malignant lesions of the eye
• Disease symptoms
• Diagnosis of the disease
• Eye cancer treatment

Eye Cancer Causes

Eye cancer develops due to a variety of adverse factors. To warn some is within man's power, others act independently of our desire.

The main causes of eye cancer are:

• Heredity. In relatives, especially several generations, this disease occurs much more often.
• Unfavorable environmental conditions are becoming a common cause of oncology, including eye cancer.
• People with HIV and AIDS are at increased risk of developing these tumors.
• Eye cancer can be secondary due to the metastasis of another malignant tumor in the human body.
• Exposure to ultraviolet rays.
• The presence of age spots on the membrane of the eye (nevi).

Doctors do not exclude the development of a tumor against the background of a general decrease in immunity due to a variety of reasons.

See also: Other Cancer Causes and Risk Factors

Types of malignant lesions of the eye

Eye tumors are classified according to their location:

• Malignant neoplasms of the eyelid:

  • squamous cell carcinoma - usually rapidly progressing, metastases invading nearby lymph nodes
  • basal cell carcinoma (basalioma) - metastasizes extremely rarely, manifests itself as an ulcerative or nodular form
  • adenocarcinoma - thickening in the thickness of the eyelid

• Tumors of the conjunctiva:

  • papillomatous variety - accompanied by the formation of nodules of different sizes
  • pterygoid variety - a white dense film with a clear pattern of vessels is formed

• Cancer of the lacrimal gland and orbit (can develop at any age, even children):

  • rhabdomyosarcoma - formed on the muscles of the eye
  • adenocystic carcinoma - affects the lacrimal gland, grows slowly, but deeply metastases, relapses are frequent

  • A malignant tumor of the choroid is most often located in the choroid itself, located under the sclera. Less commonly in the ciliary body, located immediately behind the iris. Cases of lesions of the iris are very rare (no more than 6%).
  • Retinal cancer (retinoblastoma) is a rare type that occurs in children under 2 years of age. In the hereditary form, both eyes are affected, in the absence of communication with chromosomal abnormalities, one eye is captured.

Disease symptoms

The early stages of malignant eye tumors are asymptomatic. But as soon as the tumor grows in size, it will make itself felt.

Each type of oncological lesion of the eye has specific signs, but there are also similar manifestations:

• drop in visual acuity
• presence of a spot in the field of view
• the appearance of a spot on the iris
• displacement of the eyeball
• strabismus

By itself, none of these symptoms indicate the presence of a tumor, but it is a sufficient reason for seeking medical attention for a detailed examination.

Types of tumors can manifest themselves with the following distinctive features:

• Tumors of the eyelid can manifest themselves as thickenings or outgrowths.
• Nodular neoplasms on the conjunctiva or the appearance of a dense whitish film on it, which thickens over time, will quite accurately indicate their oncological nature.
• Sensation of a foreign body in the eye, lacrimation, pain, edema of the eye are companions of lacrimal gland cancer, which progresses very quickly.
• Symptoms of a tumor of the choroid are very expressive, although sometimes this type of cancer proceeds without obvious manifestations until the last stages, expressed only by a decrease in vision. Due to the tumor, retinal detachment occurs, the person experiences severe pain, intraocular pressure rises. The eye is limited in mobility.
• Strabismus and photophobia can be signs of retinoblastoma in children. In photographs, the pupil of the affected eye glows in a light tone. Since this tumor can develop in infancy, the child should be consulted with an ophthalmologist in the first years of life, especially if relatives have had cases of this disease.

Any case of discomfort in the eye area requires the consultation of a specialist in order to diagnose the disease in time.

Diagnosis of the disease

A preliminary diagnosis can sometimes be made by a doctor when examining a patient, performing an ophthalmoscopy.

To confirm the diagnosis, examinations are carried out to help determine the type of eye cancer:

• Eyeball ultrasound
• eye echography
• fluorescence angiography
• CT scan
• X-ray examination
• histological examination

In each case, the doctor will determine the necessary studies to confirm or deny the presence of a malignant formation, its size and the area of the lesion.

Eye cancer treatment

Modern medicine involves a complex effect on the tumor, not only with the aim of destroying it, but also with the aim of preventing relapse of the disease.

Whenever possible, organ-preserving techniques are used. But it all depends on the stage of development and localization of the tumor. It is not always possible to save the eye; in this case, an artificial eyeball is implanted.

Surgical treatment is widely used, sometimes supplemented by chemotherapy or radiation therapy. Recently, brachytherapy has become increasingly widespread, when radiation is directed directly at the tumor, which minimizes the harmful effect on nearby tissues. At the same time, the patient's quality of life is practically not affected, and he can quickly return to his usual way of life.

Sometimes good results are achieved with cryodestruction or short-focus X-ray therapy (for example, with localization on the eyelid, if treatment is started in the early stages).

The prognosis of the disease depends entirely on the stage at which the detected tumor is. The earlier treatment is started, the higher the percentage of its success (from 84% in the early stages to 47% with large tumor sizes).

See also: Other effective treatments

Specific prevention of eye cancer can only consist in minimizing risk factors. Most important is a regular check-up with an ophthalmologist (at least once a year). For those who have successfully overcome the disease, such examinations are required.

Like many malignant tumors, oncological lesions of the eye in the early stages do not make themselves felt. But due to the fact that this organ is in sight and with its help we daily receive information about the world around us, it is possible to notice changes in its normal functioning early enough to start treatment.

The author of the article: Bykov Evgeny Pavlovich | Oncologist, surgeon

Education: graduated from residency at the Russian Scientific Oncological Center. N. N. Blokhin "and received a diploma in the specialty" Oncologist"