Plaque Therapy for Large (T3 and T4) Sized Choroidal Melanoma
Having a LARGE choroidal melanoma no longer means you have to lose your eye. Researchers at The New York Eye Cancer Center have found treatment with palladium-103 plaque radiation therapy offered acceptable rates of choroidal melanoma tumor control and that most patients kept there eye.
Recently published in the journal JAMA Ophthalmology, the authors examine their results in treatment of 47 consecutive patients treated over a 10-years, between 2002 and 2012, with a minimum follow-up of 6 months.
The melanomas had a average preoperative tumor height of 8.6 mm and anaverage largest basal diameter of 15.8 mm. All patients successfully completed completed treatment. At an average of 47 months (range, 6-125 months), 91% of treated melanomas were sterilized and 89% of patients were able to keep their eye.
However, radiation complications were noted within treated eyes. The most common, radiation retinopathy (maculopathy) was seen in 66% of patients. Similarly, radiation optic neuropathy was noted in 51%. These radiation complications were found at an average of 16 months (range, 2-36 months) after plaque treatment. Cataracts developed in 36% and glaucoma developed in 17%.
Before treatment, average patients visual acuity was 20/50 (range, 20/12.5 to hand motions). At last follow up, the average visual acuity was 20/100 (range, 20/20 to no light perception). Overall, 25 of 47 patients (53%) maintained 20/200 or better vision. This level of vision retention is similar to most published studies of radiation treatment of smaller choroidal melanomas.Metastatic melanoma spread developed in 32% of patients.
Palladium-103 ophthalmic plaque radiation therapy can be used as an eye and vision preserving treatment for relatively large American Joint Committee on Cancer T3 and T4 sized choroidal melanomas. Most patients were able to keep their eye and useful vision.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24287555
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Recently published in the journal JAMA Ophthalmology, the authors examine their results in treatment of 47 consecutive patients treated over a 10-years, between 2002 and 2012, with a minimum follow-up of 6 months.
The melanomas had a average preoperative tumor height of 8.6 mm and anaverage largest basal diameter of 15.8 mm. All patients successfully completed completed treatment. At an average of 47 months (range, 6-125 months), 91% of treated melanomas were sterilized and 89% of patients were able to keep their eye.
However, radiation complications were noted within treated eyes. The most common, radiation retinopathy (maculopathy) was seen in 66% of patients. Similarly, radiation optic neuropathy was noted in 51%. These radiation complications were found at an average of 16 months (range, 2-36 months) after plaque treatment. Cataracts developed in 36% and glaucoma developed in 17%.
Before treatment, average patients visual acuity was 20/50 (range, 20/12.5 to hand motions). At last follow up, the average visual acuity was 20/100 (range, 20/20 to no light perception). Overall, 25 of 47 patients (53%) maintained 20/200 or better vision. This level of vision retention is similar to most published studies of radiation treatment of smaller choroidal melanomas.Metastatic melanoma spread developed in 32% of patients.
Palladium-103 ophthalmic plaque radiation therapy can be used as an eye and vision preserving treatment for relatively large American Joint Committee on Cancer T3 and T4 sized choroidal melanomas. Most patients were able to keep their eye and useful vision.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24287555
Receive the latest news and opportunities from The Eye Cancer Foundation. Please fill out the form below.
