Ophthalmic oncology is the branch of medicine that deals with tumors relating to the eye and its adnexa. Eye cancer can affect all parts of the eye. Eye cancers can be primary – which starts within the eye - or metastatic – which spread to the eye from other organs. The two most common cancers that spread to the eye from other organs are breast cancer and lung cancer. However, cancer from the prostate, kidney, thyroid or skin and colon lymphoma and leukemia also have remote chances to spread to the eyes. Tumors in the eye and orbit can be either benign or malignant. For example, tumors such as dermoid cysts are benign, while one like rhabdomyosarcoma are malignant.
The most common eyelid tumor is called Basal Cell Carcinoma. This tumor can grow around the eye but rarely spreads to other parts of the body. Other types of common eyelid cancers include Squamous Carcinoma, Sebaceous Carcinoma and malignant Melanoma.
Ocular or ophthalmic oncology aims at saving the life of patients by successfully removing the tumor along with best efforts to preserve vision. We at MSCC also give importance to cosmetic appearance of the patient after the surgery.
The treatment of ocular tumors is a multi-specialty effort that requires coordination between ophthalmologists, medical oncologists, radiation specialists, head & neck surgeons / ENT surgeons, pediatricians/internal medicine/hospitalists and a multidisciplinary team of support staff and nurses.
For more information, visit http://www.mscc.in/Department.aspx
