Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 10, 2026
Implantation and Evaluation of Melanoma in the Murine Choroid via Optical Coherence Tomography
Published on: December 2, 2022
Post-brachytherapy tumor endoresection for treatment of toxic maculopathy in choroidal melanoma
1Department of Ophthalmology, The Jules Stein Eye Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA. tmccannel@jsei.ucla.edu
Purpose:
Toxic tumor syndrome may occur when the irradiated choroidal melanoma releases cytokines, by exudation from irradiated ischemic tissue. We report our experience and outcomes in a series of post-brachytherapy tumor endoresection to mediate radiation complications.
Methods:
Patients who underwent endoresection of a choroidal melanoma treated with iodine-125 plaque brachytherapy were evaluated. Baseline patient and tumor parameters were tabulated.
Results:
Five patients underwent post-brachytherapy tumor endoresection with intraocular gas or silicone oil tamponade. Three of the five patients underwent concomitant phacoemulsification with intraocular lens placement. Initial tumor height ranged from 2.03-8.91 mm (mean 5.81 mm). Time between brachytherapy and endoresection ranged from 13-62 months (mean 26.8 months), and total follow-up time from brachytherapy ranged from 2.5-9.75 years (mean 5.2 years). Vision post-brachytherapy and pre-endoresection ranged from 20/30 to 20/400. Final visual acuity ranged from 20/70 to no light perception. One patient developed neovascular glaucoma. Radiation maculopathy increased in all patients. One patient developed metastasis at last follow-up. No patient developed exudative retinal detachment, none had local treatment failure, and none required enucleation.
Conclusion:
Although tumor endoresection post-brachytherapy is a technically feasible procedure, all patients in our series experienced progressive radiation maculopathy with gradual visual decline.
