title: Enucleation versus plaque irradiation for choroidal melanoma.
abstract: The Collaborative Ocular Melanoma Study (COMS) is an international, multicenter-controlled study. The organization includes an Executive Committee, Steering Committee, 6 Central Units, 32 Clinical Centers, and a Data and Safety Monitoring Committee. Scientifically, the COMS consists of (1) a randomized trial of patients with medium choroidal melanoma treated with enucleation versus iodine-125 plaque irradiation, (2) a randomized trial of patients with large choroidal melanoma treated with enucleation versus preenucleation external beam irradiation and enucleation, and (3) a prospective observational study of patients with small choroidal melanoma to determine whether a randomized trial of treatment is appropriate. In design and conduct of the COMS, special consideration is given to biostatistics and sample size considerations, iodine-125 plaque irradiation of choroidal melanoma, and coordinated ocular melanoma research. Recruitment is in progress. However, the pool of eligible patients is limited and the COMS needs the continued support and cooperation of ophthalmologists throughout the United States and Canada.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Jules Stein Eye Institute, UCLA School of Medicine 90024-1771.
authors.forename: B R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Straatsma
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Fine
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Earle
authors.forename: B S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Hawkins
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Diener-West
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: McLaughlin
mesh_terms: D001918:Brachytherapy; D002830:Choroid Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D015353:Eye Enucleation; D006801:Humans; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D008545:Melanoma / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery; D012106:Research
chemical_list: D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes