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This abstract is assigned to session Poster session in O'Bistro

Title

Flanders and The Netherlands: two different worlds

Purpose	To investigate the correlation between iris color and the incidence of conjunctival melanoma. In skin and uveal melanoma there are some reports on a correlation between skin type, iris color and melanoma. This study investigate the correlation between iris color and melanoma of the conjunctiva.
Methods	The iris color of 62 conjunctival melanoma patients diagnosed at Leiden University and of 5 conjunctival melanoma patients of Antwerp University were compared with 500 control persons in Leiden and 100 control persons of Antwerp and Leuven University.
Results	The iris color differs between the Flemish and Dutch population. There was no correlation between iris color and the incidence of conjunctival melanoma.
Conclusion	This study started from the clinical observation in The Netherlands that conjunctival melanomas mostly occur from eyes with a blue or grey iris. In comparing with a Flemish population we can conclude that there is no significant correlation between iris color and melanoma of the conjunctiva, but there is a significant difference in iris color between Flemish and Dutch people.

Authors 1

Last name	MISSOTTEN
Initials	G
Department	Katholieke Universiteit Leuven
City	Leuven

Authors 2

Last name	Spileers
Initials	W
Department	Katholieke Universiteit Leuven
City	Leuven

Authors 3

Last name	De Keizer
Initials	RJW
Department	Universiteit Antwerpen
City	Antwerpen