Gamma-knife-based stereotactic radiosurgery for uveal melanoma.

Nineteen patients with uveal melanoma were treated with Gamma-Knife-based stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS). The radiation dose was 40 Gy prescribed to the 50% isodose line for all patients. The median follow-up was 40 months. The 3- and 5-year overall survival rates were 86 and 55%, respectively. The 3- and 5-year tumor control rates were both 94%. Six of the 19 treated patients (32%) developed distant metastasis 31-75 months after SRS. Out of the 19 patients treated with SRS, 2 had improved, 4 had stable and 13 had worse vision in the treated eye. Gamma-Knife-based SRS appears to provide excellent local control of uveal melanoma. The risk of distant metastasis is significant. Effective systemic therapy is to be explored to improve the treatment outcome of uveal melanoma. Copyright (c) 2007 S. Karger AG, Basel.