There is an association between uveal and a variety of skin melanomas, according to study results published in the March issue of Ophthalmology.

Ezekiel Weis, MD, MPH of the Department of Ophthalmology, University of Alberta, Canada and colleagues conducted a meta-analysis of literature published between 1966 and 2007 to assess whether cutaneous melanoma risk factors — cutaneous nevi (both atypical and common), cutaneous freckles and iris nevi — also constituted a risk for uveal melanoma, to determine if any link between the diseases existed. Published studies provided information on 850 cases of atypical cutaneous nevi, 825 cases of common cutaneous nevi, 2122 cases of cutaneous freckles and 825 cases of iris nevi.

The meta-analysis demonstrated that atypical cutaneous nevi, common cutaneous nevi, cutaneous freckles and iris nevi provided odds ratios of 2.82, 1.74, 1.22 and 1.53, respectively, of developing uveal melanoma.

The researchers therefore concluded that these acknowledged risk factors for cutaneous melanoma also pose a risk of uveal melanoma.