Open AccessThe conservative management of choroidal melanoma
Author(s) -
Billson Frank A.,
Painter Geoffrey,
Dunlop Iain,
Thomas Ravi,
Aylward G. William
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
australian and new zealand journal of ophthalmology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1440-1606
pISSN - 0814-9763
DOI - 10.1111/j.1442-9071.1990.tb00587.x
Subject(s) - enucleation , medicine , conservative management , visual acuity , surgery , melanoma , choroidal melanoma , ophthalmology , cancer research
The results of 32 choroidal melanomas managed by observation, Iodine‐125 scleral plaques and local surgical excision are presented. Initially, 12 patients were managed by observation, and of these three continued to be managed by observation alone. Fifteen patients were managed with Iodine‐125 scleral plaques and followed for an average of 15 months. The tumour regressed in 11, remained the same in three, and recurred in one case. The final visual acuity remained within two Snellen lines of that recorded preoperatively in 10 patients. Fourteen patients underwent local excision with an average follow‐up of 31 months. These cases, in general, had larger tumours. The final visual acuity was within two Snellen lines of the pre‐operative vision in four patients. Five eyes required enucleation at a later date. Four of the five enucle‐ations occurred earlier in the series. The management of choroidal melanoma remains controversial. Various methods of conservative treatment are described and the indications for conservative management by observation, scleral plaque and local èxcision are discussed.