{Reference Type}: Journal Article
{Title}: Long-term outcomes after enucleation or plaque brachytherapy of choroidal melanomas touching the optic disc.
{Author}: Fili M;Astrahan M;Stålhammar G;
{Journal}: Brachytherapy
{Volume}: 20
{Issue}: 6
{Year}: Nov-Dec 2021
{Factor}: 2.441
{DOI}: 10.1016/j.brachy.2021.05.162
{Abstract}: To investigate local and systemic outcomes after enucleation, brachytherapy with ruthenium-106, iodine-125, notched and non-notched plaques and transpupillary thermotherapy (TTT) of choroidal melanomas touching the optic disc.<BR>All patients treated for choroidal melanoma touching the optic disc at St. Erik Eye Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden between 1984 and 2015 (n = 165) were included. Retrospective clinicopathological data was collected and 3D dosimetry performed.<BR>Ninety-five patients (58 %) had been treated with ruthenium-106 brachytherapy, 21 (13 %) with iodine-125 brachytherapy and 49 (30 %) with enucleation. Median follow-up was 12.3 years. In simulations, some tumor areas were underdosed with non-notched plaques. Fifty of 116 patients (43 %) underwent a secondary brachytherapy (n = 5), enucleation (n = 29) or TTT (n = 16). In multivariate Cox Regressions, there were no significant differences in the risk for tumor progression or lack of regression between radioisotopes and notched and non-notched plaques. Adding TTT did not reduce the risk for a second treatment. The number of clock hours of circumpapillary tumor growth did not correlate to the risk for treatment failure or mortality. There were no significant differences in melanoma-related mortality for any treatment including enucleation. Kaplan-Meier disease-specific survival was 77 % at 5 years, 72 % at 10 years and 67 % at 20 years.<BR>Plaque brachytherapy of choroidal melanomas touching the optic disc entails a two to threefold increased risk for treatment failure. This risk is similar between radioisotopes, notched and non-notched plaque designs and if TTT is used or not. The high rate of treatment failure does not lead to increased mortality.