TTT as rescue treatment for choroidal melanoma not controlled with iodine-125 brachytherapy.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the use of transpupillary thermotherapy in the management of two small choroidal melanomas that continued to grow following Iodine-125 brachytherapy.


METHODS
Case reports from a tertiary care center.


RESULTS
One small growing choroidal melanoma showed a partial response to Iodine-125 brachytherapy; four years later, it regrew to a thickness of 2.7 mm. After transpupillary thermotherapy (TTT), the tumor regressed to a flat scar and has remained inactive for more than three years. A second small melanoma failed to show regression after Iodine-125 brachytherapy; it progressively grew to 3.6 mm. TTT was used to treat the tumor on two successive occasions six weeks apart. The tumor regressed to a flat scar within three months and has remained inactive for 2.5 years.


CONCLUSIONS
TTT may be considered as a rescue treatment for small choroidal melanomas that have failed to respond satisfactorily to brachytherapy.
Robertson
Dennis M
DM
Department of Ophthalmology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA. robertson/dennis@mayo.edu
D000368:Aged; D001918:Brachytherapy; D002830:Choroid Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005654:Fundus Oculi; D006801:Humans; D006979:Hyperthermia, Induced; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008545:Melanoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000628:therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D019233:Retreatment; D016879:Salvage Therapy; D017211:Treatment Failure; D014463:Ultrasonography
D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes