Proton beam irradiation of uveal melanomas. Results of 5 1/2-year study
E. S. Gragoudas, M. Goitein, L. Verhey, J. Munzenreider, M. Urie, H. Suit and A. Koehler
Proton beam irradiation was used in the treatment of 76 uveal melanomas
from July 1975 to December 1980. Five (7%) were small, 32 (42%) were
medium, and 39 (51%) were large melanomas. The follow-up period ranged from
two months to 5 1/2 years; 19 patients were followed up for more than two
years and 39 were observed for more than a year. Tumor regression has been
achieved in all eyes with more than 12 months of follow-up except one,
which was enucleated because of secondary complications. Three patients in
whom metastatic disease developed died. Our data indicate that proton
irradiation can be used for the treatment of relatively large lesions that
previously were considered untreatable and reduces the high ocular
morbidity experienced with other methods in the treatment of medium and
small melanomas.
