Ruthenium-106 Brachytherapy with or without Additional Local Therapy Shows Favorable Outcome for Variable-Sized Choroidal Melanomas in Korean Patients

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to report clinical outcomes of ruthenium-106 (106Ru) brachytherapy with or without additional local therapy for choroidal melanomas in Korean patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 88 patients diagnosed with choroidal melanomas were treated with 106Ru brachytherapy between 2006 and 2012. Patients were divided into two groups according to their tumor height: a large group (≥ 6 mm, n=50) and a small group (< 6 mm, n=38). Most patients in the large group received combined therapy with local excision and/or transpupillary thermotherapy. In general, 85-95 Gy was administered to the apex of the tumor, while 100 Gy was administered to the point 2-6 mm from the outer surface of the sclera for patients undergoing combined therapy. RESULTS The median follow-up duration was 30 months. The 3-year local control rate was significantly higher in the small group than in the large group (94% vs. 70%, p=0.047). The free from distant metastasis (FFDM) rate and the overall survival (OS) rate were also higher in patients in the small group (3-year FFDM, 97% vs. 76%; p=0.031 and 3-year OS, 97% vs. 72%; p=0.036). A total of 13 patients underwent enucleation. The eye-preservation rate was also higher in the small group (3-year eye-preservation rate, 94% vs. 70%; p=0.050), and tumor height was a significant prognostic factor for eye-preservation. CONCLUSION 106Ru brachytherapy showed favorable outcomes in small choroidal melanomas in Korean patients. Although additional local treatment could improve eye-preservation rate for large tumors, other strategies should be considered for disease control.