106Ru/106Rh plaque radiotherapy for malignant melanomas of the choroid. With follow-up results more than 5 years.

Therapeutic results are presented with follow-up examinations of at least 5 years (min. 5 years, max. 22 years) after 106Ru/106Rh plaque radiotherapy of posterior uveal melanomas. Out of 227 patients 146 (= 64.3%) could be treated successfully, 37 (= 16.3%) had to be enucleated and are alive, 44 (= 19.4%) died from metastases and 40 (17.6%) from other causes. 75.0% of all small melanomas (T1a) showed an excellent regression pattern to flat scars. Five years after treatment the survival rate was 83.7% (deaths from any causes) respectively 88.2% (deaths from metastases only) and 64.8% (deaths from any causes) respectively 79.7% (deaths from metastases only) ten years after irradiation. 106Ru/106Rh plaque radiotherapy can be recommended for small (T1a, b) and medium sized (T2) choroidal melanomas.