Uveal Metastasis Based on Patient Sex in 2214 Tumors of 1111 Patients. A Comparison of Female Versus Male Clinical Features and Outcomes

BACKGROUND: Lacking in previous studies on uveal metastasis is a robust statistical comparison of patient demographics, tumor features, and overall survival based on patient sex. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate demographics, clinical features, and overall survival of patients with uveal metastasis based on sex. METHOD: This is a retrospective analysis. All patients were evaluated on the Ocular Oncology Service, Wills Eye Hospital, PA between January 1, 1974 and June 1, 2017. RESULTS: A total of 2214 uveal metastases were diagnosed in 1310 eyes of 1111 consecutive patients. A comparison (female versus male) revealed differences across several demographic and clinical features including, among others, mean age at metastasis diagnosis (58 vs 63 years, P < 0.001), bilateral disease (21% vs 11%, P < 0.001), and mean number of metastases per eye (1.8 vs 1.6 tumors per eye, P = 0.04). There were differences in overall mean survival (20 vs 13 months, P = 0.03) and 5-year survival (Kaplan-Meier estimate) (31% vs 21%, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: There are demographic, clinical, and survival differences when patients with uveal metastases are compared by sex. Understanding these differences can aid the clinician in better anticipating patient outcomes.