OBJECTIVE: To evaluate, retrospectively, in a long time interval, the results of transpupillary thermotherapy in selected cases of choroidal melanoma (CM). METHODS: All patients with melanoma treated with transpupillary thermotherapy as sole therapy or supplement were identified. Cases with less than 60 months follow-up, incomplete records or abandonment of monitoring were excluded. RESULTS: A total of 18 eyes, seven (38.9%) were included. Five (71,4%) patients were treated exclusively with transpupillary thermotherapy, in one (14,2%) eye criotherapy was used simultaneously, one (14,2%) was supplemented with brachytherapy - episcleral plate. Three (42.8%) had recurrence, two (28.5%) had metastases (one death), two eyes were enucleated. Complications were found in three eyes: two with macular folds, one with vitreous hemorrhage. In the enucleated eyes, extraescleral did not occur, however intrascleral tumoral cells were identified. CONCLUSION: Transpupillary thermotherapy shows a decline in its effectiveness and retains the risk of metastases in longer periods of follow-up, requiring a more exact definition of its role in choroidal melanoma.
Melanoma; Choroidal; Hyperthermia, induced
