(125)I episcleral plaque brachytherapy in the treatment of choroidal melanoma: a single-institution experience in Spain

Abstract

Purpose: To analyze the results of episcleral plaque brachytherapy from the Catalan Institute of Oncology in Spain.

Materials and methods: From September 1996 through December 2004, 120 patients with choroidal melanoma (median age, 59 years) were treated with iodine-125 seeds at our institution. Patients were classified according to the criteria developed by the Collaborative Ocular Melanoma Study (COMS) group, as follows-COMS-I: 3 patients; COMS-II: 87 patients; COMS-III: 24 patients; and indeterminate COMS: 9 patients. Followup ranged from 1 year to 8.4 years.

Results: Overall survival at 5 and 8 years was 83.9% and 73.3%, respectively. The 5- and 8-year specific survival rate was 85.7%. Local control was 88.2% and 72.7% at 5 and 8 years, respectively. The most common treatment-related toxicity was cataract formation (31.6% of cases), followed by radiation retinopathy (7.5%) and retinal detachment (4.1%).

Conclusion: The results of this institutional retrospective study confirm that the use of iodine-125 episcleral plaques to treat choroidal melanoma offers the potential for conserving a functioning eyeball. The toxicity profile is favorable and disease control is similar to other techniques.