Microwave thermoradiotherapy for intraocular melanoma

We evaluated the use of microwave hyperthermia as an adjuvant to ophthalmic plaque radiotherapy for patients with intraocular tumors. Forty-eight patients were offered combined microwave plaque thermoradiotherapy (TRT) as a primary treatment for their uveal melanomas. A dish-shaped microwave antenna was placed on the sclera beneath the tumor at the time of plaque brachytherapy. While temperatures were measured at the sclera, the tumor's apex was targeted to receive a minimum of 42 degrees C for a 45-min duration. Patients were also given full or reduced doses of plaque radiotherapy (125I or 103Pd). We reduced the minimum tumor radiation dose (apex dose) for 42 (88%) of our patients to <70 Gy (mean, 52.5 Gy). The 48 TRT patients were followed for < or =8 years (average, 45 months). To date, there has been one documented postoperative tumor enlargement, for a 97.2% local control rate. Two patients were lost to follow-up. Four eyes have been enucleated: two due to neovascular glaucoma, one to glaucoma secondary to intraocular inflammation, and one for progressive tumor enlargement. Although 13 patients have died, only four deaths were due to metastatic melanoma. Thirty-five patients (73%) have maintained within two lines or had better than their preoperative visual acuity. Side effects attributable to heating included chorioretinal scar formation within and around the targeted zone and decreased intraocular pressures without hypotony. Our experience with this heat delivery system suggests that adjuvant microwave thermotherapy can be used with plaque radiotherapy for the treatment of uveal melanoma.