[A risk of metastasis of choroid melanoma after brachytherapy]

The efficiency of treatment, frequency rate and the time of onset of metastasis were analyzed in 271 patients with uveal melanomas. The follow-up ranged from 4 to 16 years. 193 patients were observed more than 5 years and 77 patients were observed more than 7 years. Modest and medium tumors were registered in 185 patients. A complete resorption of tumors was observed in 167 cases, 78 eye were enucleated due to an insufficient therapeutic effect. Metastases were diagnosed in 9.6% of patients. As for the group of patients observed for more than 5 years, metastases were observed among them in 6% of cases. Metastases set on in 4-5 years after operations in 38% of cases, metastases developed postoperatively in 5 to 10 years in 50% of patients. A total regression of tumor is not a guarantee to a complete recovery, however, the frequency rate of metastases drops to 7% and they appear during a more remote time period (on the average 7.7 years later). At the same time, when the therapeutic effect after brachytherapy is insufficient, the frequency rate of metastases went up virtually to 18%, while the time of their onset reduced to 4 years.