Complications in patients with uveal melanoma after stereotactic radiosurgery and brachytherapy

Malignant uveal melanoma is the most common intraocular tumour with the incidence about 0.7-1.0 in 100.000 inhabitants. Enucleation is still a standard treatment method for posterior uveal melanoma, but conservative methods are an adequate alternative. Brachytherapy has been used more than 20 years in our Department, stereotactic radiosurgery was introduced in 1999. In years 1991-2004, 145 patients with uveal melanoma were treated at the Department of Ophthalmology, Comenius University, Bratislava. Conservative treatment/brachytherapy is indicated in tumours staged T1-T3. Survival is comparable for all conservative methods. After stereotactic radiosurgery (Linac), the necessity of enucleation because of complications (e.g. secondary glaucoma), after brachytherapy (Ru106 plaques), it was 5%. Conservative methods and combined techniques are effective methods for the therapy of uveal melanomas (Fig. 5, Tab. 1, Ref. 6).