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Gamma knife radiosurgery for uveal melanoma shows 88.8% survival rate at 3 years

Br J Ophthalmol. 2009;93(1):40-44.

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Gamma knife radiosurgery may be a viable alternative to enucleation for the treatment of choroidal melanoma. The procedure showed survival and eye-retention rates approaching 90%.

The study included 78 patients with uveal melanoma who underwent stereotactic radiosurgery with a Leksell Gamma Knife between 1994 and 2006. The radiation dose was 30 to 50 Gy. Primary outcome measures were survival rate, eye retention rate, local tumor control, visual acuity and complications.

Results showed that the procedure yielded a survival rate of 88.8% at 3 years and 81.9% at 5 years. Eyes were retained in 89.7% of cases. Local tumor control was attained in 91% of patients. Median tumor thickness reduction was 1.96 mm (–32.1%, P < 0.0001).

The most commonly identified complications were exudative retinopathy (33.3%), neovascular glaucoma (18.7%), radiogenic retinopathy (13.5%) and vitreous hemorrhage (10.4%).

"A significant relative reduction of visual acuity was observed during follow-up," the study authors said.