Malignant intraocular tumors.

The role of the radiation therapist in the management of malignant intraocular tumors is changing. With more active identification of malignant intraocular tumors, and a better recognization of the manner in which one can deal with problems of radiation sensitivity, radiation techniques of all sorts will be more actively employed in the treatment of these tumors. Special techniques must be selected for appropriate circumstances of management in order to diminish to an absolute minimum the impact upon the lens, the impact upon visual acuity and the impact upon the cornea. Cobalt-60 plaques are being used more commonly in the treatment of melanomas of the choroid, and the role for radiation therapy in the management of retinoblastoma is changing markably to where it may be used as the primary treatment program rather than enucleation. In metastatic disease involving the uveal tract, radiation therapy has assumed the most important role for management. Chemotherapy should be considered as an active adjuvant in the management of not only those individuals with retinoblastoma but also in those identified circumstances where metastases to the uveal tract are being treated. The role for chemotherapy or immunotherapy in malignant melanoma is unclear.