title: MR-guided laser-induced thermotherapy (LITT) in patients with liver metastases of uveal melanoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Evaluation of the local tumour control rate and survival data for magnetic resonance (MR) imaging-guided laser ablation of uveal malignant melanoma liver metastases by using laser-induced interstitial thermotherapy (LITT).
  
  
  METHODS
  The LITT was performed in 18 patients with liver metastases (n = 44) from uveal malignant melanoma. All patients tolerated this intervention well. With the Kaplan-Meier method, the survival rates were calculated. Indications for the procedure were defined for patients with no more than five metastases, none of which were larger than 5 cm in diameter: The Indication for LITT treatment were recurrent liver metastases after partial liver resection (22%), locally non-resectable tumours (17%) or metastases in both liver lobes (61%).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean survival rate for all treated patients was 3.6 years (95% CI: 2.19, 5.06). We started the calculation on the date of diagnosis of the metastases treated with LITT. The median survival was 1.83 years; 1-year survival, 88%; 3-year survival 47%, 5-year survival 17%. Calculated after the first LITT treatment the median survival was 2.8 years (95% CI: 1.0, 5.0). 10 patients were treated by transarterial chemoembolization before LITT.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MR-guided LITT treatment shows a high local tumour control and survival rates in patients with liver metastases of uveal malignant melanoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University of Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Eichler
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zangos
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gruber-Rouh
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Vogl
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Mack
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006979:Hyperthermia, Induced; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary* / Q000628:therapy; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015996:Survival Rate; D014604:Uveal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*