Reirradiation of the eye with plaque brachytherapy: a single institution experience report of eight consecutive patients submitted to retreatment after local relapse of malignant disease of the eye.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the feasibility of reirradiation of the eye with plaque brachytherapy (REPBT) for local recurrence (LR) of malignant disease of the eye as an alternative to enucleation or other local salvage treatments. METHODS AND MATERIALS: It was performed a retrospective analysis of all patients who underwent REPBT for LR. The main parameters evaluated were local control and progression-free survival, besides the toxicity profile.
RESULTS: There were eight patients who underwent REPBT, seven due to uveal melanoma and one due to retinoblastoma. The median time between the first plaque brachytherapy and the salvage plaque brachytherapy was 24 months (8-49 months). After a median followup of 30 months (8-70 months), the actuarial 2-year local control and progression-free survival was 87.5% and 60%, respectively. All patients evolved with worsening of the visual acuity and cataract. Other complications observed were maculopathy (two patients) and glaucoma (one patient).
CONCLUSIONS: REPBT should be considered as an option for salvage therapy of LR of malignant disease of the eyes as it provides a high probability of tumor control and eye preservation without compromising disease-free survival.