Abstract
Purpose
To report the results of ruthenium-106 plaque radiotherapy for iris malignant melanoma.
Methods
A retrospective study of 15 patients with pure iris melanoma treated with ruthenium-106 plaque radiotherapy from June 1998 to June 2006. The main outcome measures were tumour control and ocular complications.
Results
Of the 15 patients, 8 had biopsy-proven melanoma (6 incisional and 2 excisional biopsies). In the remaining seven patients enlargement of the lesion was documented. The median follow-up was 96 months (ranging from 14 months to 12 years). Common radiation-related complications included cataract in 9 (60%) patients, dry eyes in 3 (20%) patients and elevated intraocular pressure in 4 (27%) patients. Vision was preserved in 80% of patients. Local tumour control was obtained in all patients.
Conclusions
Ruthenium-106 plaque radiotherapy is an effective treatment for primary malignant iris melanoma, resulting in excellent local control with preservation of vision. Main complications included cataract, dry eyes, and glaucoma.
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Acknowledgements
We would like to thank Dr Ian Stoker, radiotherapy physicist, for his help in this paper.
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The authors declare no conflict of interest.
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This study has been accepted as an oral presentation in the Joint Congress of SOE AAO, 4–7 June 2011, Geneva, Switzerland and the Ophthalmic Oncology Group Meeting, Copenhagen, 15–17 April 2011.
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Tsimpida, M., Hungerford, J., Arora, A. et al. Plaque radiotherapy treatment with ruthenium-106 for iris malignant melanoma. Eye 25, 1607–1611 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1038/eye.2011.222
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/eye.2011.222
