[Complications of transpupillary thermotherapy for choroidal melanomas and possibilities for their prevention]

The authors analyze cases of complications occurring in patients with choroidal melanoma after transpupillary thermotherapy (TTT) (72 cases). The frequency of complications (31.94%) is consistent with those given in the literature (22-32%). The bulk is due to vascular disorders that mainly appear as vasculopathy (23.6%). Their frequency with the unique treatment procedure is shown to depend on the degree of pigmentation of a tumor and its thickness. Previous brachytherapy for melanoma increases the likelihood of retinal neovascularization with preretinal hemorrhages. The frequency of such events can be reduced by TTT for small choroidal melanomas during maximum mydriasis.