ABSTRACT
The aim of this study is to assess the results of episcleral brachytherapy as treatment of retinal vasoproliferative tumors (RVTs) in a referral Intraocular Tumors Unit (ITU). A retrospective review of all patients diagnosed with vasoproliferative tumors of the retina and treated with episcleral brachytherapy in the ITU, University Hospital of Valladolid between 2009 and 2015 was done. Five patients accomplished the inclusion criteria. All of them presented associated exudation and secondary retinal detachments (RD). Four patients had received prior treatments. Decreased tumor size and exudation regression was found in all cases after treatment. Visual acuity remained stable or increased in all patients. No recurrences have been found after twelve-months follow up. The results of the present study suggest that episcleral brachytherapy is an efficient and safe option in the management of vasoproliferative tumors, especially when large tumor or extensive subretinal fluid is present. In these cases episcleral brachytherapy could be considered as a first line treatment.
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To assess influence of the radiobiological doses, tumor, and treatment features on local control, enucleation rates, overall and disease-specific survival rates after brachytherapy for posterior uveal melanoma. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Local control, enucleation, overall and disease-specific survival rates were evaluated on the base of 243 patients from 1996 through 2016, using plaques loaded with iodine sources. Clinical and radiotherapy data were extracted from a dedicated prospective database. Biologically effective dose (BED) was included in survival analysis using Kaplan-Meier and Cox regressions. The 3-, 5-, 10-, and 15-year relative survival rates were estimated, and univariate/multivariate regression models were constructed for predictive factors of each item. Hazard ratio (HR) and confidence interval at 95% (CI) were determined. RESULTS: The median follow-up was 73.9 months (range, 3-202 months). Cumulative probabilities of survival by Kaplan-Meier analysis at 3, 5, 10 and 15 years were respectively: 96%, 94%, 93%, and 87%, for local control; 93%, 88%, 81%, and 73% for globe preservation; 98%, 93%, 84%, and 73% for overall survival, and 98%, 96%, 92%, and 87% for disease-specific survival. By multivariate analysis, we concluded variables as significant: for local control failure - the longest basal diameter and the juxtapapillary location; for globe preservation failure - the longest basal dimension, the mushroom shape, the location in ciliary body, and the dose to the foveola; for disease-specific survival - the longest basal dimension. Some radiobiological doses were significant in univariate models but not in multivariate ones for the items studied. CONCLUSIONS: The results show as predictive factors of local control, enucleation, and disease-specific survival rates those related with the features of the tumor, specifically the longest basal dimension. There is no clear relation between radiobiological doses or treatment parameters in patients after brachytherapy.
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To assess the influence of the radiobiological doses, tumor, and treatment features on retinopathy, cataracts, retinal detachment, optic neuropathy, vitreous hemorrhage, and neovascular glaucoma at the authors' institution after brachytherapy for posterior uveal melanoma. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Medical records of 243 eyes with uveal melanoma, treated by iodine brachytherapy between 1996 and 2016 at a single center were analyzed. Clinical and radiotherapy data were extracted from a dedicated database. Biologically effective dose (BED) was included in survival analysis performed using Kaplan-Meier and Cox regressions. Relative survival rates were estimated, and univariate/multivariate regression models were constructed for predictive factors of each item. Hazard ratio and confidence interval at 95% were determined. Variables statistically significant were analyzed and compared by log-rank tests. RESULTS: The median follow-up was 73.9 months (range, 3-202 months). Cumulative probabilities of survival by Kaplan-Meier analysis at 3 and 5 years, respectively, were: 59% and 48% for retinopathy; 71% and 55% for cataracts; 63% and 57% for retinal detachment; 88% and 79% for optic neuropathy; 87% and 83% for vitreous hemorrhage; 92% and 89% for neovascular glaucoma, respectively. Using multivariate analysis, statistically significant risk factors were: age, tumor apical height, dose to foveola, and location of anterior border for retinopathy; age, dose to lens, type of plaque, and tumor shape, for cataracts; age, tumor apical height, and size of the plaque for retinal detachment; age, plaque shape, longest basal dimension, and BED to optic nerve for optic neuropathy; age, tumor apical height, and tumor shape for vitreous hemorrhage; tumor apical height and BED to foveola for neovascular glaucoma. CONCLUSIONS: Tumor factors in addition to radiation treatment may contribute to secondary effects. Enhanced clinical optimization should evaluate radiobiological doses delivered to the tumor volume and surrounding normal ocular structures.
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To assess the long-term influence of radiobiological doses in the evolution of visual acuity (VA) in patients with uveal melanoma treated by episcleral brachytherapy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Visual acuity was evaluated prospectively from a case series of 243 patients in 2016 treated with 125I. Data analysis was applied to trend VA outcome and find the accurate best-fit line. Biologically effective dose (BED) was included in survival analysis with the use of Kaplan-Meier and Cox regressions. Hazard ratio (HR) and confidence interval at 95% (CI) were determined. Variables statistically significant were analyzed and compared by log-rank tests. RESULTS: The median follow-up was 74.2 months (range, 3-223). Exponential regression shows a 25% reduction and 50% in visual acuity score (VAS) scale for 5 and 27.8 months, respectively. Cumulative probabilities of survival analysis were 57%, 42%, 27%, and 23% at 3, 5, 10, and 15 years, respectively. Multivariable analysis found tumor height (HR = 1.18, 95% CI: 1.07-1.29), applicator size (HR = 1.22, 95% CI: 1.08-1.36), juxtapapillary localization (HR = 1.70, 95% CI: 1.01-2.84), and dose to foveola (HR = 1.01, 95% CI: 1.00-1.01) significantly associated with VA loss. Log-rank tests were significant for all those variables. BED has a strong influence in univariate model, but not statistically significant in the multivariate one. CONCLUSIONS: Visual acuity changes can be modeled by an exponential function for the first 5 years after treatment. No relation between VA loss and BED has been found; nevertheless, apical height, plaque size, juxtapapillary localization, and dose to fovea were found as statistical significant variables.
ABSTRACT
A pseudophakic 70-year-old man presented to the clinic with a slow-growing conjunctival mass in the left eye. He was diagnosed with a conjunctival exophytic lesion suspicious of invasive conjunctival squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC). Excisional biopsy showed a well-differentiated CSCC with positive margins and the patient underwent adjuvant brachytherapy. Six weeks later, examination of the anterior segment revealed cells in the anterior chamber and a neurotrophic corneal ulcer with corneal perforation. Considering the high suspicion of intraocular invasion of CSCC, the left eye was enucleated. Histopathologic findings showed scarring of the ciliary body with fibrosis temporally. Nasally, the sclera showed a lobular infiltration of well-differentiated squamous carcinoma. The central cornea exhibited a large ulcer with perforation and infiltrating squamous cells adhering to the posterior surface. To our knowledge, this is the first documented case of an intraocular diffuse recurrence of CSCC after resection and adjuvant brachytherapy, with clinicopathologic correlation of radiation effects on the ocular tissues.
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To describe the efficacy of episcleral brachytherapy in a choroidal melanoma and circumscribed hemangioma arising in both eyes of the same patient. CASE REPORT: We present the case of a 47 year old man who presented decreased visual acuity a few months preceding initial consult. On fundoscopy, he presented a melanotic lesion in the right eye, and a red-orange choroidal mass in the macular area of the left eye. MATERIAL AND METHODS: B scan-ultrasound, fluorescein, and indocyanine green angiography, confirmed the diagnosis of choroidal melanoma in the right eye, and circumscribed choroidal hemangioma in the left eye. Episcleral brachytherapy with (125)I was performed in both eyes consecutively. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Bilateral episcleral brachytherapy successfully treated both tumors, preserving the eyes and useful visual function.
