Primary Orbital Melanoma: An Investigation of a Rare Malignancy Using the National Cancer Database

Abstract

Objectives: Primary orbital melanoma (POM) is a rare disease with limited data on survival and best treatment practices.Here we utilize the National Cancer Database (NCDB) to determine the overall survival (OS) and covariates that influence mortality.Study Design: Retrospective cohort study.Methods: All patients diagnosed with POM from 2004 to 2016 were identified in the NCDB. Patient and oncologic data were analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method and multivariate models for the primary outcome of OS.Results: A total of 129 patients were identified. Median OS was 36.9 months (95% confidence interval [CI] 24.1-78.7months) with mean 5-year survival of 42.0% (CI 33.2%-53.2%). Treatments received included surgery alone (43.4%), radiation alone (23.3%), and surgery followed by radiation (20.2%). The multivariate model demonstrated an increased risk of death associated with age over 80 years (hazard ratio [