[Transpupillary thermotherapy of choroidal melanomas].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effectiveness of transpupillary thermotherapy (TTT) as a single treatment of choroidal melanomas.


METHODS
We studied a series of 50 cases of choroidal melanoma treated with TTT and evaluated them with standardized A-scan and B-scan echography before and after treatment (1 week, 1, 3, and 6 months after treatment, then every 6 months).


RESULTS
There were 22 males and 28 females with a mean age of 57 years (range, 22-78). The mean thickness of the lesion was 2.7 +/- 0.6 mm (range, 1.63-3.72). The mean follow-up was 38 months (range, 21-41). In almost all the eyes treated with TTT, substantial regression of tumoral microcirculation was observed after 1 week associated with a 70%-80% reduction in tumor thickness after 6 months (stabilized during follow-up). In one case of juxtapapillary melanoma with a thickness of 3.72 mm, another TTT application was necessary for local relapse. Visual acuity (VA) decreased to 20/30 in two cases (4%) and to 20/200 in four cases (8%) after the development of a cystoid macular edema. These latter patients were treated with two intravitreal injections (range, 1-3) of triamcinolone acetonide, and after a follow-up of 25 months (range, 21-29) VA improved to 20/20 in the first two cases, while two of the four other cases improved to 20/40 and two to 20/30.


CONCLUSIONS
Transpupillary thermotherapy has visual results similar to those obtained with irradiation for the treatment of choroidal melanomas. Nevertheless, considering the high rate of recurrence at 5 and 10 years after transpupillary thermotherapy alone, most authors think that transpupillary thermotherapy is useful when associated irradiation for the treatment of choroidal melanomas, but its precise indications need to be defined.
Forte
R
R
Service d'Ophtalmologie, Université Federico II, Naples, Italie.
Cennamo
G
G
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002830:Choroid Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006979:Hyperthermia, Induced / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000628:therapy; D011680:Pupil; D014792:Visual Acuity