Early outcomes of uveal melanoma treated with intraoperative ultrasound guided brachytherapy using custom built plaques

PURPOSE: To report early outcomes of patients with uveal melanoma treated with Eye Physics iodine-125 episcleral plaque therapy using modern biopsy techniques and intraoperative ultrasound guidance at our institution.

METHODS AND MATERIALS: A retrospective chart review was conducted for 48 consecutive patients with uveal melanoma who were treated with Eye Physics plaque brachytherapy performed by 1 ocular oncologist. All patients underwent intraoperative ultrasound for image guidance of plaque placement. A dose of 85 Gy was prescribed to the apical height of the tumor or 5 mm from the inner sclera, whichever was greater. Forty-five patients underwent biopsy. Visual acuity, complication data, and recurrence rates were recorded.

RESULTS: Median age at presentation was 63.0 years (range, 19-86 years). Median follow-up was 21.6 months. Median tumor apical height was 3.3 mm (range, 1.8-11.5 mm). Median dose at apex for tumor height >5 mm was 85.0 Gy and 142.5 Gy for tumor height ≤5 mm. Mean percent decrease in tumor height from baseline at 12, 24, and 36 months was 39.6%, 51.8%, and 53.8%, respectively. At 24 months, 19/23 (82.6%) patients maintained vision within 3 lines of baseline visual acuity. Twelve patients developed radiation retinopathy, 6 of whom were treated with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapy in the context of a clinical trial. No patients to date have local failure. Three patients are alive with confirmed hepatic metastases.

CONCLUSIONS: We reported 0% early local failure rate and steady reduction in tumor height in 48 patients with uveal melanoma, ranging from small to large size, who were treated with Eye Physics iodine-125 episcleral plaque therapy using intraoperative ultrasound guidance. This promising result emphasizes the importance of image guided brachytherapy with intraoperative ultrasound at the time of plaque placement.