High-compared with low-dose radiosurgery for uveal melanomas.
OBJECTIVE
The authors compared the results of gamma knife radiosurgery in patients with uveal melanoma who underwent high-dose (treated from 1992-1995) and low-dose irradiation (treated from 1996-2002).


METHODS
Thirty-one patients with uveal melanomas were treated with a mean margin dose of 52.1 Gy (high dose) and 33 with a mean dose of 41.5 Gy (low dose), and results were compared between groups. The technical procedure was the same in each group except for radiation dose. In the low-dose group, complete tumor regression (scar formation) occurred in 12% and in the high-dose group in 26%. Partial regression (reduction of the tumor prominence between 50 and 80%) occurred in 81% of the low-dose group and in 58% of the high-dose group. Neovascular glaucoma as a severe complication developed in 9% of the low-dose group and in 48% of the high-dose group.


CONCLUSIONS
Reduction of the margin dose from 52.1 to 41.5 Gy appears to achieve the same rate of tumor regression but is associated with a lower rate of severe side effects such as neovascular glaucoma. The follow-up period in the low-dose group, however, was much shorter.
Langmann
Gerald
G
Department of Ophthalmology, Karl-Franzens University, Graz, Austria. gerald.langmann@uni-graz.at
Pendl
Gerhard
G
Müllner
Klaus
K
Feichtinger
K H
KH
Papaefthymiouaf
Georg
G
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D016634:Radiosurgery / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014604:Uveal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*