Changes of Choroidal Thickness in Patients with Choroidal Melanoma after Ruthenium 106 Plaque Brachytherapy

Abstract

 

Purpose

 

To evaluate the changes of choroidal thickness before and after ruthenium (Ru)-106 plaque brachytherapy in patients with choroidal melanoma and investigate the association between choroidal thickness and tumor characteristics.<br />

 

Methods

 

Seventeen eyes of 17 patients with choroidal melanoma who were underwent Ru brachytherapy with trans-pupillary thermotherapy were reviewed retrospectively. Choroidal thickness at baseline and 6 months after brachytherapy was measured using enhanced depth imaging spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (EDI-OCT). The largest basal diameter (LBD) and apical height of the tumors were also measured with B-scan ultrasonography.<br />

 

Results

 

The mean subfoveal choroidal thickness in the affected eyes at baseline was 291.53 ± 46.05 ㎛, which was significantly thicker than that of unaffected fellow eyes (245.24 ± 64.34 ㎛, p=0.004). The choroidal thickness decreased significantly to 256.53 ± 62.92 ㎛ (P=0.024) at 6 months after treatment.. No significant association between the changes of choroidal thickness and the changes of ultrasonographic tumor characteristics such as LBD and apical height was found.<br />

 

Conclusions

 

The eyes with choroidal melanoma showed increased subfoveal choroidal thickness. The choroidal thickness decreased after successful treatment of local tumor therapy. Further investigation is necessary to study the implication of subfoveal choroidal thickness assessment in the management of choroidal melanoma.<br />