[Treatment of choroid melanoma with contact curietherapy using ruthenium 106]

Recently, enucleation of choroidal melanomas tends to be replaced by less radical treatments such as photocoagulation. Use of Ruthenium 106 plaques has proved to be efficient in Germany. Because the Beta rays of Ruthenium 106 have only limited tissue penetration they are used only for tumors of less than 6-7 mm thickness and less than 18 mm2 surface. This report describes 62 cases of choroidal melanomas treated with Ruthenium 106. With a follow-up period of 12 to 48 months, 32 cases had total regression, including 2 cases with metastases. 15 patients required a second procedue and 15 had additional photocoagulation. In 23 of 51 patients the visual acuity remained unchanged. In 26 patients the visual acuity decreased and 2 patients had an improvement. 13 patients with melanomas inside or close to the macular area decreased their visual acuity.