Choroidal Melanoma Brachytherapy
Eye-sparing radiotherapy with plaque brachytherapy
This content has been compiled by the Saygı Hospital Health Guide Editorial Board and is periodically reviewed by a specialist physician.
This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. You can book an appointment at our Göz Hastalıkları department. Book Appointment →
What is Choroidal Melanoma Brachytherapy?
Choroidal melanoma is the most common primary intraocular malignancy in adults, arising from melanocytes in the choroid layer. Plaque brachytherapy is the gold-standard eye-conserving therapy for small-to-medium choroidal melanomas (apical height up to 10 mm and basal diameter up to 18 mm), delivering 85 Gy to the tumor apex over 4-7 days through a radioactive plaque sutured directly to the sclera over the tumor base.
Iodine-125 (low-dose-rate, gamma) is the most widely used isotope worldwide, while ruthenium-106 (beta) is preferred for thinner tumors due to its rapid dose fall-off. The Collaborative Ocular Melanoma Study (COMS) trial demonstrated equivalent overall survival between brachytherapy and enucleation for medium-size tumors, establishing eye preservation as standard care.
Treatment requires multidisciplinary planning including ocular oncology, radiation oncology, and medical physics for plaque design, dosimetry calculation, and surgical placement. Long-term follow-up monitors local recurrence, radiation retinopathy, optic neuropathy, cataract, neovascular glaucoma, and systemic metastasis (primarily hepatic).
Symptoms
Risk Factors
When to See a Doctor?
If you experience any of the following symptoms, seek medical attention promptly:
- New visual loss or scotoma in one eye
- Photopsia or floaters
- Pigmented fundus lesion identified on routine eye examination
- Choroidal nevus with documented growth
- Choroidal nevus with subretinal fluid, orange pigment, or thickness over 2 mm
- Retinal detachment without rhegmatogenous cause
- Recurrent vitreous hemorrhage
- Family history of uveal melanoma with new symptoms
- Suspicious lesion seen on ophthalmoscopy
- Personal history of cutaneous melanoma
- Iris pigmented lesion with growth
- Asymmetric ocular pigmentation
Treatment Methods
Which Department to Visit?
You can visit our Göz Hastalıkları department for these complaints. Our specialist physicians will create the most suitable treatment plan for you.
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You can make an appointment with our specialists or contact us for your concerns.
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Health Disclaimer: The information on this page is prepared for general informational purposes only. It does not replace medical diagnosis and treatment. Please consult your physician for your complaints. Saygı Hospital does not accept responsibility for actions taken based on the information on this page.