ArticleCancers2020
The MOLES System for Planning Management of Melanocytic Choroidal Tumors: Is It Safe?
Article in Cancers, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 26 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Who cites it
26 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 41 citations in OpenAlex.
- Artificial Intelligence-Driven Differentiation Between Uveal Melanoma and Nevus Based on Fundus Photographs: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Translational vision science & technology · 2026Pooled it
- Stereo-Vision-Inspired Spectral Disparity Learning for Choroidal Tumor Thickness Prediction.Translational vision science & technology · 2026Article
- Age distribution and characteristics of choroidal nevi in 35 559 individuals: A nationwide study using optometry fundus photography.Acta ophthalmologica · 2026Article
- Comparing the use of the Optos Silverstone widefield imaging system with ultrasound B-scanning for the assessment of choroidal naevi.Eye (London, England) · 2026Article
- Review
- Validation of MOLES score for small choroidal melanomas: impact of assuming enlargement for telemedicine in sizable lesions.Eye (London, England) · 2026Article
- Comparison of MOLES and MelCancers · 2026Article
- Metastatic potential of small posterior uveal melanomas.Acta ophthalmologica · 2026Article
- OCT Angiography-Based Quantitative Choroidal Vasculature Analysis in Choroidal Melanomas and Nevi.Ophthalmology science · 2026Article
- Artificial Intelligence in Ocular Oncology: Differentiating Choroidal Melanocytic Lesions.Ophthalmology science · 2026Article
- Challenges for Opticians in Evaluating Small Pigmented Choroidal Lesions: Potential Support From the MelAInoma Deep Learning Algorithm.Translational vision science & technology · 2025Article
- Artificial intelligence in the diagnosis of uveal melanoma: advances and applications.Experimental biology and medicine (Maywood, N.J.) · 2025Review
- Performance of the MOLES and TFSOM-DIM scores in classifying choroidal nevi and melanoma.Scientific reports · 2024Article
- Real-world experience of implementing the MOLES score in a virtual choroidal naevi clinic at a tertiary referral centre.Eye (London, England) · 2024Article
- Multimodal imaging risk factors predictive of small choroidal melanocytic lesion growth to melanoma: An educational study and pictorial guide.Eye (London, England) · 2024Article
- Predicting Malignant Transformation of Choroidal Nevi Using Machine Learning.Research square · 2023Article
- Choroidal Nevus Features Associated with Subspecialty Referral.Ophthalmology. Retina · 2023Article
- Is Tumour Thickness Measurement Required for MOLES Scoring of Melanocytic Choroidal Tumours?Ocular oncology and pathology · 2023Article
- Peripheral Hemorrhagic Chorioretinopathy: Differentiating Features from Choroidal Melanoma.Ocular oncology and pathology · 2023Article
- Review
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
7 authors at 1 institution in 2 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
purposeTo evaluate the MOLES system for identifying malignancy in melanocytic choroidal tumors in patients treated for choroidal melanoma.
methodsRecords of 615 patients treated for choroidal melanoma between January 2017 and December 2019 were reviewed. Patients were excluded if iris and/or ciliary body involvement (106 patients), inadequate fundus photography (26 patients), no images available for review (21 patients) and/or treatment was not primary (11 patients). Demographic data and AJCC TNM Stage were collected. Color fundus and autofluorescence photographs (FAF), optical coherence tomography (OCT) and B-scan ultrasounds were prospectively reviewed. MOLES scores were assigned according to five criteria: mushroom shape, orange pigment, large size, enlarging tumor and subretinal fluid.
resultsA total of 451 patients (mean age, 63.9 ± 13.9 years) were included. At treatment, mean largest basal tumor diameter (LBD) and thickness were10.3 ± 2.8 mm (range, 3.0-23.0) and 4.3 mm (range, 1.0-17.0). All but one (0.2%) had MOLES scores of ≥3. Eighty-two patients were treated after surveillance lasting a mean of 1.5 years. Initially, most (63/82; 76.8%) had a MOLES score ≥ 3. Importantly, none of the 451 tumors had a score of <2, and as such, the MOLES protocol would have indicated referral to an ocular oncologist for 100% of patients.
conclusionThe MOLES scoring system is a sensitive (99.8%) tool for indicating malignancy in melanocytic choroidal tumors (MOLES ≥ 3). If the examining practitioner can recognize the five features suggestive of malignancy, MOLES is a safe tool to optimize referral of melanocytic choroidal tumors for specialist care.
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