(125)I episcleral plaque brachytherapy in the treatment of choroidal melanoma: a single-institution experience in Spain.
OBJECTIVE
To analyze the results of episcleral plaque brachytherapy from the Catalan Institute of Oncology in Spain.


METHODS
From September 1996 through December 2004, 120 patients with choroidal melanoma (median age, 59 years) were treated with iodine-125 seeds at our institution. Patients were classified according to the criteria developed by the Collaborative Ocular Melanoma Study (COMS) group, as follows-COMS-I: 3 patients; COMS-II: 87 patients; COMS-III: 24 patients; and indeterminate COMS: 9 patients. Followup ranged from 1 year to 8.4 years.


RESULTS
Overall survival at 5 and 8 years was 83.9% and 73.3%, respectively. The 5- and 8-year specific survival rate was 85.7%. Local control was 88.2% and 72.7% at 5 and 8 years, respectively. The most common treatment-related toxicity was cataract formation (31.6% of cases), followed by radiation retinopathy (7.5%) and retinal detachment (4.1%).


CONCLUSIONS
The results of this institutional retrospective study confirm that the use of iodine-125 episcleral plaques to treat choroidal melanoma offers the potential for conserving a functioning eyeball. The toxicity profile is favorable and disease control is similar to other techniques.
Correa
Raquel
R
Department of Radiation Oncology, Hospital Clínico Universitario Virgen de la Victoria, Málaga, Spain. racoge@hotmail.com
Pera
Joan
J
Gómez
Joaquín
J
Polo
Alfredo
A
Gutiérrez
Cristina
C
Caminal
Josep María
JM
Modolell
Ignasi
I
Navarro
Valenti
V
Guedea
Ferrán
F
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001918:Brachytherapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D002830:Choroid Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013030:Spain
D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes