Design of computerised database for clinical and basic management of uveal melanoma

The uveal melanoma is the most common primary intraocular tumour in adults. The objective of this work is to show how a computerised database has been formed with specific applications, for clinical and research use, to an extensive group of patients diagnosed with uveal melanoma. For the design of the database a selection of categories, attributes and values was created based on the classifications and parameters given by various authors of articles which have had great relevance in the field of uveal melanoma in recent years. The database has over 250 patient entries with specific information on their clinical history, diagnosis, treatment and progress. It enables us to search any parameter of the entry and make quick and simple statistical studies of them. The database models have been transformed into a basic tool for clinical practice, as they are an efficient way of storing, compiling and selective searching of information. When creating a database it is very important to define a common strategy and the use of a standard language.