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Updated: Oct 1, 2026
Implantation and Evaluation of Melanoma in the Murine Choroid via Optical Coherence Tomography
Published on: December 2, 2022
[Prospective nonrandomised analysis of "Sandwich Therapy" for malignant melanoma of the choroid]
Bernhard M Stoffelns1, Joachim Kutzner, Kilian Schöpfer
1Augenklinik des Universitätsklinikums Mainz, Germany. stoffelns@augen.klinik.uni-mainz.de
Background:
To evaluate the effectiveness of transpupillary thermotherapy (TTT) as an adjunct to ruthenium brachytherapy for treatment of choroidal melanoma with reduced radioactive dose.
Patients And Methods:
In a prospective nonrandomised analysis 15 eyes with primary malignant melanoma of the choroid (posterior to the equator, thickness
Results:
The mean tumour thickness before therapy was 3.2 mm (1.2 - 4.5 mm), the mean tumour regression 3 months postoperatively 2.1 mm (0.5 - 4.5 mm). 12 months postoperatively all tumours were regressed through a completely flattened chorioretinal scar. In 5 eyes visual acuity improved. The main reason for visual decrease in 7 eyes was subfoveal tumour location in 4 eyes, development of macular oedema in 2 eyes and epiretinal gliosis in one eye. Neither occlusion of retinal vessels nor radiation retinopathy/optic neuropathy were observed. Despite complete tumour regression clinically and fluoresceinangiographically, ICG-angiography revealed persistence of choriocapillary vessels especially at the posterior margin of the treatment zone in all eyes. No tumour regrowth or metastatic disease were recorded.
Conclusions:
Our 12-month results of TTT complementary to ruthenium brachytherapy with an attenuated tumour apex dose of 100 Gy for posterior choroidal melanoma with thickness