Iodine I 125 plaque radiotherapy for vasoproliferative tumors of the retina in 30 eyes.

OBJECTIVE

To report the efficacy of iodine I 125 plaque radiotherapy for the treatment of vasoproliferative tumors (VPTs) of the ocular fundus.

METHODS

The clinical features and outcomes of patients with VPTs who underwent iodine I 125 plaque radiotherapy were evaluated. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the effect of preoperative findings on visual acuity and complications. Kaplan-Meier survival estimates for the probability of adverse outcomes were performed.

RESULTS

Of the 30 eyes treated, 17 (57%) had primary and 13 (43%) had secondary VPTs. The median tumor base was 8.6 mm (range, 3.5-18.0 mm) and median tumor thickness was 3.7 mm (range, 2.5-6.3 mm). Exudative retinal detachment was present in 23 eyes (77%). Tumor regression was observed in 29 of 30 eyes (97%) and retinal detachment completely resolved in 15 of 23 eyes (65%). Visual acuity improved or remained stable in 22 eyes (73%). The only factor predictive of visual improvement was the classification of primary VPT (relative risk, 19; 95% confidence interval, 2-185; P = .01). Kaplan-Meier estimates of radiation complications at 5 years predicted cataract in (48%), transient vitreous hemorrhage in (16%), and neovascular glaucoma in (8%) of eyes. No patient developed radiation maculopathy or papillopathy.

CONCLUSIONS

Iodine I 125 plaque radiotherapy is an effective method of treating larger (>2.5-mm thickness) VPTs with extensive exudative retinal detachment.