Primary laser photocoagulation of "small" choroidal melanomas.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate primary laser photocoagulation of "small" posterior choroidal melanomas in eyes with good vision.


METHODS
This study includes a case series comprising six patients treated with standard laser techniques for melanoma, which had a mean thickness of 3.1 mm (range 2.9-3.9 mm), largest basal diameter of 8.6 mm (mean, range 7.0-10.0 mm), and located 0.5-2 disk diameters from the fovea or 0.3-3 disk diameters from the optic nerve head.


RESULTS
No metastatic death was observed in the follow-up period (range 3 1/2-7 1/2 years). Two local recurrences appeared, both were treated with plaques, one eye was later enucleated. Two additional cases were also treated with plaques. Only two of the irradiated eyes retained reading vision.


CONCLUSIONS
Primary photocoagulation of "small" posterior choroidal melanomas with argon laser is not recommended.
University Eye Department, Rikshospitalet, University of Oslo, Norway.
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Eide
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002829:Choroid / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D002830:Choroid Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005654:Fundus Oculi; D006801:Humans; D017075:Laser Coagulation; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D013508:Ophthalmologic Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*