2005-10-01
Reduced melanoma-related mortality in uveal melanoma by preenucleation radiotherapy
Publication
Publication
Archives of Ophthalmology , Volume 123 - Issue 10 p. 1363- 1367
Background: Radiotherapy of an eye before enucleation, so called preenucleation radiotherapy (PER), of patients with uveal melanoma was initiated to reduce enucleation-induced systemic metastasis. Earlier studies with a short follow-up period have not demonstrated a significant effect on survival. Objective: To study the effect of PER on melanoma-related mortality after more than 9 years of follow-up. Design: In a prospective study, 167 patients with uveal melanoma were treated between 1978 and 1992 by irradiation with 800 rad (8 Gy) given in 2 fractions 2 days before enucleation. A group of 108 patients with uveal melanoma treated between 1971 and 1992 by enucleation only in the same hospital served as a historical control group. Patients were followed up until December 2002 or death. Results: Melanoma-related death occurred in 32.3% of the PER-treated group and in 40.7% of the enucleation only group. Mean follow-up was 9.25 years. After 48 months of follow-up, a significant difference in survival became evident in favor of the PER group. The estimated 15-year survival rates for patients with melanoma in the PER group and enucleation only group were 63.7% and 51.0%, respectively. For patients dying of all causes, these percentages were 47.5% and 25.2%, respectively. In both groups, women had a better prognostic outcome than men. Conclusion: This study suggests that PER improves long-term survival in patients with uveal melanoma.
Additional Metadata | |
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doi.org/10.1001/archopht.123.10.1363, hdl.handle.net/1765/71247 | |
Archives of Ophthalmology | |
Organisation | Department of Ophthalmology |
Kiliç, E., Stijnen, T., de Jong, P., Mooy, C., Eijkenboom, W., Ringens, P., & Luyten, G. (2005). Reduced melanoma-related mortality in uveal melanoma by preenucleation radiotherapy. Archives of Ophthalmology, 123(10), 1363–1367. doi:10.1001/archopht.123.10.1363 |