Malignant melanoma of the choroid: treatment with episcleral 198Au plaque and xenon-arc photocoagulation.

A method of treatment for posteriorly located malignant melanomas of the choroid is reviewed. Twenty-six patients have been treated either by radioactive gold (198Au) seed radiation plaque, alone or in combination with postradiation xenon-arc photocoagulation. Success, defined as the preservation of the globe with tumor ablated or regressed, was achieved in 92.3% of the treated eyes. These patients have been followed from 1 to 8.5 years, with an average follow-up of 44.84 months. Fifteen out of 26 patients (57.69%) had a final visual acuity of 20/50 or better. The main complications were radiation retinopathy (19.2%) and cystoid macular edema (19.2%). There were two enucleations, one after 29 months and one after 24 months following treatment.