Gamma Knife Stereotactic Radiosurgery for Conjunctival Squamous Cell Carcinoma Invading the Anterior Orbit: A Case...

The aim of the study was to report our experience in the use of Gamma Knife Stereotactic Radiosurgery (GKSTRS) for conjunctival squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) invading the orbit, as an alternative to exenteration surgery.

Patients who had GKSTRS for conjunctival SCC invading the orbit but sparing the bone (AJCC eighth ed. T4a) with a minimum of 1-year follow-up were included. Treatment failure was defined as no decrease in tumour size 3 months post-treatment, or further growth during the follow-up period. Patients were followed up 3-monthly for 2 years and 6-monthly afterwards with a minimum of yearly MR Imaging of orbit.

Six patients met the inclusion criteria. MR imaging was used to identify the extent of orbital involvement of SCC. Stereotactic radiosurgery utilizing the Leksell Gamma Knife® Perfexion was delivered in a single session in which patients received 18-20 Gy to the 45-50% isodose. The median follow-up was 29 months. Four patients responded to the treatment and had no evidence of recurrence at their most recent follow-up. The treatment failed in 2 patients, in 1 of whom the tumour was larger and extended deeper into the orbit. The other patient developed a recurrence away from the treated area at 9 months, suggesting a multifocal disease. Both patients had poorly differentiated SCC.

GKSTRS is a potential alternative to orbital exenteration surgery for conjunctival SCC extending into the anterior orbit in a selected group of patients refusing orbital exenteration or has a second blind eye. Nevertheless, the disease is more likely to recur than with exenteration surgery, hence lifelong monitoring and low threshold for surgical intervention or retreatment is prudent.