Purpose:

To evaluate the autcome pf patients with choroidal melanoma treated with conservative therapy with brachytherapy (episcleral Co-60 plaque therapy) at the "Hospital do Cancer"São Paulo, Brazil.

Methods:

We evaluated 102 patients consecutively treated from January, 1999 to June, 1999. Median age, maximum tumor base diameter and apex size were 55.5 years, 9.75 and 5mm, respectively. Dose s at the base of the tumor, including 1 mm of sclera, ranged from 157 to 487 Gy (median 284.5 Gy) and to the apex from 37 to 220 Gy (median 106 Gy).

Results:

The crude eye preservation rate with conservative therapy alone was 78.5 percent. Five-year overall actuarial survival rate was 92.2 percent and eye conservation rate was 78 percent. Side effects were mostly and uncomplicated retinopathy in 39/102 patients (38.2 percent); macular degeneration or scarring led to poor central vision in 31/102 patients (30.3) of cases.

Conclusion:

Our experience with cobalt-60 plaque brachytherapy achieved a satisfatory rate of local tumor control, despite the oversized base diameters of theated tumors.