Combined local excision and brachytherapy with ruthenium-106 in the treatment of epibulbar malignancies.

Two patients with epibulbar malignancies were treated by local excision and brachytherapy with ruthenium-106. One patient showed a large melanoma on the epibulbar conjunctiva, the other patient suffered from a recurrent squamous cell carcinoma at the limbus. After excision of the tumor including lamellar sclerectomy and keratectomy, a ruthenium-106 plaque was sutured to the sclera, and a total dose of 290 and 320 Gy, respectively, was delivered to the tumor bed. No severe radiogenic complications were observed except for a rarefaction of the sclera in the treatment area and a slow cataract increase. After a follow-up period of 50 and 22 months, respectively, both patients do not show any recurrence or metastatic disease.