Abstract

Aims: To determine visual and anatomic outcomes following transpupillary thermotherapy (TTT) as a primary treatment for small choroidal malignant melanomas.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 20 patients with small choroidal melanomas who underwent primary TTT at our institution. Patients with choroidal melanomas posterior to the equator with a basal diameter less than 12 mm and thickness less than 3.5 mm were included if the lesion had documented growth or clinical risk factors for growth.

Results: Thirteen women and seven men (mean age: 65 years, range: 41-85 years) underwent TTT. Mean preoperative tumor thickness was 1.81 mm (range: 0.78–3.40 mm). Mean follow-up time after TTT was 44.6 months (range: 11- 108 months, median: 47.5 months). After a mean of 2.15 primary TTT sessions (range: 1-4), tumor regression without recurrence was attained in 11 (55%) of 20 cases. Five of nine remaining tumors with recurrence were successfully treated with additional TTT. One patient declined further TTT and underwent enucleation. Three other tumors had recurrence after repeat TTT. The mean time to recurrence after initial TTT was 20.8 months (range: 8-37 months). The mean time to recurrence after repeat TTT was 35 months (range: 5-69 months). There was no tumor related metastasis or death.

Conclusions: Tumors treated with TTT have significant recurrence rates. Although tumor control may ultimately be achieved with TTT, close monitoring of these tumors is necessary since repeat TTT or alternative therapies may be required.