3D WrapTM Ultra-Widefield Reconstruction in Stereotactic Radiosurgery for Choroidal Melanoma

Predictive factors of radio-induced complications in 194 eyes undergoing gamma knife radiosurgery for uveal melanoma

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

To report the factors predictive of radio-induced complications (i.e. radiation retinopathy [RR], radiation papillopathy [RP] and neovascular glaucoma [NVG]) in uveal melanoma (UM) patients undergoing gamma knife radiosurgery (GKR).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Longitudinal cohort study on patients with UM treated at the Ocular Oncology Service, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, between June 1994 and November 2018. Data were retrospectively reviewed. Rates of GKR-related complications were reported. Variables associated with each complication were investigated using multivariable Cox models and confirmed by logistic regression analysis. Hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were reported for significant associations.

RESULTS

One hundred ninety-four patients (99 males, 51%) were included, and 184 tumours were primarily located in the choroid (95%). Median follow-up was 57 months (range 6-286). Local control was achieved in 182 eyes (94%), and 152 eyes (78%) experienced at least one radiation-induced complication. Radiation retinopathy was documented in 67 eyes (35%) after a median of 23 months. Older age (HR = 0.97, 95% CI = 0.95-0.99, p = 0.02) had a protective effect for RR. Radiation papillopathy was diagnosed in 35 eyes (18%) after a median of 14 months after GKR. Macular or peripapillary location (HR = 3.06, 95% CI = 1.52-6.16, p = 0.002) was associated with increased risk of RP, while older age was protective (HR = 0.95, 95% CI = 0.93-0.98, p = 0.001). New-onset NVG was found in 53 eyes (27%), and median onset was 28 months. Tumour thickness (HR = 4.41, 95% CI = 2.23-8.72, p < 0.001) and peripapillary location (HR = 2.78, 95% CI = 1.46-5.27, p = 0.002) were the main risk factors associated with NVG.

CONCLUSION

Understanding factors predictive for radiation-related complications in patients undergoing GKR might help for better counselling and treatment planning.

Radiation therapy for uveal melanoma: a review of treatment methods available in 2021

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Radiation therapy has become the standard of care for the treatment of uveal melanoma. We intend to outline the current radiation therapy methods that are employed to treat uveal melanoma. We will outline their relative benefits over one another. We will also provide some background about radiation therapy in general to accustom the ophthalmologists likely reading this review.

RECENT FINDINGS

Four main options exist for radiation therapy of uveal melanoma. Because the eye is a small space, and because melanomas are relatively radioresistant, oncologists treating uveal melanoma must deliver highly focused doses in high amounts to a small space. Therapies incorporating external beams include proton beam therapy and stereotactic radiosurgery. Stereotactic radiosurgery comes in two forms, gamma knife therapy and cyberknife therapy. Radiation may also be placed directly on the eye surgically via plaque brachytherapy. All methods have been used effectively to treat uveal melanoma.

SUMMARY

Each particular radiotherapy technique employed to treat uveal melanoma has its own set of benefits and drawbacks. The ocular oncologist can choose amongst these therapies based upon his or her clinical judgment of the relative risks and benefits. Availability of the therapy and cost to the patient remain significant factors in the ocular oncologist's choice.