title: Amniotic membrane corneal buffering during plaque radiation therapy for anterior uveal melanoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To report results after amniotic membrane-protected epicorneal plaque brachytherapy for anterior uveal melanoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-three patients were treated with epicorneal radioactive plaques for 5 to 7 days. To prevent corneal damage, eye irritation, and reduce pain, 0.1-mm-thick fresh-frozen amniotic membrane grafts were interposed between the plaque and the cornea during brachytherapy. All amniotic membranes were removed at the end of brachytherapy. Patients were questioned about subjective comfort during treatment and observed for clinical outcomes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Only 4.8% of patients reported pain during brachytherapy. Short-term brachytherapy-related corneal complications including mild keratopathy, corneal epithelial defect, and edema were noted in 41.3% of patients. All corneal complications resolved within 2 weeks. No patients developed corneal melting or opacity during a mean follow-up of 28 months. Local tumor control was achieved in 95.2%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Amniotic membrane-buffered epicorneal plaque therapy provided comfort and excellent local tumor control.
authors.forename: Ekaterina
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Semenova
authors.forename: Paul T
authors.initials: PT
authors.lastname: Finger
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000650:Amnion / Q000637:transplantation*; D001918:Brachytherapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D003315:Cornea / Q000528:radiation effects* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011835:Radiation Protection / Q000379:methods*; D014604:Uveal Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D014792:Visual Acuity