Abstract
PURPOSE: To determine liver screening frequency and modality in UM patients following primary treatment, and the characteristics of detected metastases. METHODS: A 10-year retrospective study of 615 UM patients undergoing liver surveillance in Liverpool. Information was collected from liver scan reports of these patients. RESULTS: Of 615 UM patients analyzed, there were 337 men (55%) and 278 women (45%). Median age at primary treatment was 61 years (range, 22-94). At study end, median follow-up was 5.1 years, with 375 patients (61%) alive and 240 deceased (39%). Of the deceased patients, 187 (78%) died due to metastatic UM; 24 (10%) deaths were due to other causes; and 29 (12%) patients died of unknown conditions. In total, 3854 liver scans were performed in the 615 UM patients, with a median of 6.2 scans per patient (range, 1-40). Liver MRI was most frequently performed (62.8%). In total, 229 (37%) UM patients developed metastases during the study period: 150 were detected via liver surveillance and 79 were observed post-mortem. CONCLUSIONS: Metastatic UM onset is related to the size and genetic profiles of the primary UM, and can be predicted using the model LUMPO3. Regular liver surveillance allowed for timely detection of metastases, and through metastasectomy can lead to prolongation of life in some patients.