title: Episcleral brachytherapy for uveal melanoma: analysis of 136 cases.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the results of I-125 episcleral brachytherapy (EB) in uveal melanoma: tumour control, visual acuity (VA), eye preservation and survival.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective and consecutive study of patients with a diagnosis of uveal melanoma at the Ocular Oncology Unit in the Valladolid University Teaching Hospital treated with EB between September 1997 and June 2008. Ocular examination and extraocular and systemic extension data were registered in a database at the time of the diagnosis and during the follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among a total of 310 patients diagnosed between September 1997 and June 2008, 136 were treated with EB (mean age, 58.3). Mean follow-up was 55.3 months. As for tumour type, 66.9% were nodular and 39% mushroom shaped. With respect to size, 80.9% were medium, 7.4% small and 11.8% large. After 4.6 years of follow-up, tumours were controlled in 97.1%, with a 55.1% reduction in mean height; only 2.9% of patients showed recurrence. VA was maintained in 16.2% of patients and 17.6% showed an increase; 33% had retinopathy and 14.6% optic neuropathy. Only 5.1% of patients underwent enucleation due to complications and there has been 1 melanoma-related death to date.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  I-125 EB is effective in tumour control, allowing preservation of the eye and useful visual function for the majority of patients.
authors.affiliation: Intraocular Tumors Unit, Hospital Clínico Universitario de Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain. ciro.garcia.alvarez@gmail.com
authors.forename: Ciro
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: García-Álvarez
authors.forename: María Antonia
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Saornil
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: López-Lara
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Almaraz
authors.forename: María Fe
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Muñoz
authors.forename: Jesús
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Frutos-Baraja
authors.forename: Yerena
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Muiños
mesh_terms: D001918:Brachytherapy; D015353:Eye Enucleation; D005134:Eye Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D015422:Scleral Diseases / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014604:Uveal Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000528:radiation effects; D000098943:Uveal Melanoma
chemical_list: D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes