Dose-Related Visual Outcomes in the Treatment of Choroidal Melanoma with Stereotactic Radiotherapy

Stereotactic radiotherapy (SRT) in the treatment of choroidal melanoma (CM) may be indicated if the tumour is located close to the optic nerve or is unsuitable for a radiotherapeutic plaque. It is thought that the rate of visual decline and ocular sequelae with SRT is influenced by dose and location of radiation in relation to important visual structures. This study therefore aimed to look at these prognoses with respect to localisation and dose of radiation when treatment of CM with SRT occurs.

A retrospective data analysis was conducted on all patients at Dunedin Hospital (DH) from August 2001 to May 2017 who were followed up for 4 years. SRT consisted of 50 Gy divided into five fractions over 5 days to tumours, with 2-mm treatment margins. The primary outcome measure was retention of functional vision - better than hand movements (HMs) within the treated eye. Secondary outcome measures included time to non-functional vision (HM or less) in relation to location, dose and tumour thickness, the presence of radiation retinopathy, local and metastatic tumour progression, enucleation, and disease-specific mortality.

Seventy-five patients were identified in this study. Follow-up was incomplete in 10 patients, and 4 patients became deceased within the 4-year study period. Twenty-nine patients (48%) retained visual acuity (VA) better than HMs in the treated eye at 4 years, and thirty-two (52%) of patients did not. Calculated dose to the optic nerve and macula and proximity of the tumour to the optic nerve and macula were not statistically determinative of vision outcomes, although presenting VA was. Fifty-six per cent of patients developed radiation retinopathy involving the macula. The local progression, metastatic progression and enucleation rates were 4.6%, 6%, and 12.3%, representing 3, 4, and 8 patients, respectively.

This study demonstrates that approximately half of patients treated with SRT can expect to maintain functional vision better than HM at 4 years. The rate of visual decline and final vision outcome are independent of location of the tumour in relation to the optic nerve and macula. While it affirms that SRT achieves high rates of local tumour control and eye retention, preservation of functional VA remains an unpredictable endpoint for individual cases and highlights the therapeutic challenge of this treatment modality.