[High-dose 106Ruthenium plaque brachytherapy for posterior uveal melanoma. A clinico-pathologic study].
BACKGROUND
The purpose of this study was to report the multifactorial results of high-dose (106)Ruthenium plaque brachytherapy for (cilio-)choroidal melanoma and to confirm them by histological examinations.


METHODS
100 patients with choroidal or ciliochoroidal melanoma treated by high-dose 106Ruthenium plaque brachytherapy were followed-up for 5 years. 12 secondary enucleated eyes were compared to a non-irradiated matched group by light microscopy.


RESULTS
The 5-year local tumour control rate was 93%, the 5-year survival rate 91%. Late radiogenic side effects occured as a retinopathy in 13%, as an optic neuropathy in 5% and as a secondary glaucoma in 3% of the patients. 14% had to be enucleated, 10% developed metastases. The histopathologic examination revealed significantly higher degrees of necrosis (p=0,041), balloon cell degeneration (p=0,025) and fibrosis (p<0,001) in the irradiated melanomas than in the control tumours.


CONCLUSIONS
High-dose 106Ruthenium plaque brachytherapy turned out to be an effective treatment procedure for posterior uveal melanoma (not exceeding a prominence of 5,5 mm) with a high rate of local tumour control and a low rate of side effects.
Heindl
L M
LM
Augenklinik mit Poliklinik, Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Schwabachanlage 6, 91054, Erlangen, Germany. ludwig.heindl@augen.imed.uni-erlangen.de
Lotter
M
M
Strnad
V
V
Sauer
R
R
Naumann
G O H
GO
Knorr
H L J
HL
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001918:Brachytherapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D002829:Choroid / Q000473:pathology; D002830:Choroid Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D002924:Ciliary Body / Q000473:pathology; D015353:Eye Enucleation; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D012429:Ruthenium Radioisotopes / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014602:Uvea / Q000473:pathology; D014604:Uveal Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*
D012429:Ruthenium Radioisotopes