Purpose: To trace the evolution and status of our knowledge of choroidal melanoma with regard to the nature, cause, and treatment of this tumor.
Methods: Historical materials beginning with Georg Bartisch's contributions in 1583 through to the Collaborative Ocular Melanoma Study and recent basic research are reviewed.
Results: Many individuals have made important contributions to our knowledge about this tumor. Basic information, however, regarding the natural history of the tumor, the most effective treatment, and its cause is lacking.
Conclusion: The Collaborative Ocular Melanoma Study will provide important information regarding the choice of treatment between enucleation and radiotherapy as well as natural history information, quality of life, and definitive pathology findings. Definitive treatment of choroidal melanoma will depend on knowledge of the genetic defects that cause the tumor. Within the next 25 years, it is predicted that genetic defects will be determined and tumor samples will be obtained using small-needle aspiration and DNA probes located on microchips. In addition, treatment will then be based on drugs designed to inhibit molecules related to the genetic defect in the tumor.