Microincisional vitrectomy for retinal detachment in I-125 brachytherapy-treated patients with posterior uveal malignant melanoma

roincisional vitrectomy for retinal detachment in I-125 brachytherapy-treated patients with posterior uveal malignant melanoma Original Research (516) Total Article Views Authors: Lonngi M, Houston SK, Murray TG, Sisk RA, Decatur CL, Cavalcante M, Markoe AM Published Date February 2013 Volume 2013:7 Pages 427 - 435 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/OPTH.S36413 Received: 27 July 2012 Accepted: 14 September 2012 Published: 27 February 2013 Marcela Lonngi,1 Samuel K Houston,1 Timothy G Murray,1–3 Robert A Sisk,4 Christina L Decatur,1 Milena Cavalcante,1 Arnold M Markoe3 1Department of Ophthalmology, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA; 2Murray Ocular Oncology and Retina, Miami, FL, USA; 3Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA; 4Department of Ophthalmology, Cincinnati Eye Institute, Cincinnati, OH, USA Purpose: To analyze functional and anatomical outcomes following 23/25+ gauge microincisional pars plana vitrectomy surgery (MIVS) in patients with radiation-related retinal detachment after successful 125-iodine (I-125) brachytherapy treatment for malignant uveal melanoma. Patients and methods: Retrospective case series of 102 consecutive eyes of 102 patients with history of uveal melanoma treated with I-125 brachytherapy that underwent MIVS at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute. All cases were evaluated for surgical complications and local tumor control. Extended follow-up included Snellen’s best-corrected visual acuity, intraocular pressure evaluation, quantitative echography, indirect ophthalmoscopy, and fundus imaging with optical coherence tomography/wide-field photography. Results: All patients had radiation-related complications, including retinal detachment (102 eyes), vasculopathy (91 eyes), optic neuropathy (32 eyes), and/or vitreous hemorrhage (8 eyes). Sixty-seven patients had vitreoretinal traction. Average follow-up after MIVS was 19.5 months, and from plaque removal was 57.7 months. Interval from plaque to MIVS was 38.1 months. Initial visual acuity was 20/258, which improved to 20/101 at 1 month, 20/110 at 3 months, 20/116 at 6 months, and 20/113 at 12 months (P < 0.05). No eyes required enucleation. Melanoma-related mortality was 0.9% (1/102). There was no intra- or extraocular tumor dissemination, and no tumor recurrence. Conclusion: MIVS was effective in improving visual function and anatomy in patients with radiation-related retinal detachment. Tumors decreased in size and there was no evidence of recurrence or tumor dissemination. This combined procedure addresses the modifiable causes of visual loss in patients with previously treated malignant uveal melanoma and has the potential to enhance their visual function.