[Ruthenium 105-applicator for radiation treatment of carcinoma in situ of the cornea and conjunctiva].

Intraepithelial neoplasias of cornea and conjunctiva are rare epibulbar tumors. In this report we describe the cases of two male patients, aged 37 and 80 years, each with histologically confirmed carcinoma in situ of the cornea and conjunctiva affecting one eye. Both carcinomas recurred in spite of complete surgical excision of the tumor. One patient had additional cryotherapy. Both recurrences were treated once with radiotherapy using a conventional 106Ru applicator. The applicator was fixed to the sclera adjacent to the corneal limbus. A 100 Gy radiation dose was delivered with 2mm tissue penetration. No complications were observed post-operatively. The 2-year follow-up examinations showed no further recurrences. Brachytherapy with 106 Ru applicator was thus effective in achieving local tumor control. These findings suggest brachytherapy of the anterior segment using the 106 Ru applicator as the first-line procedure in the early stages of epithelia dysplasia or carcinoma in situ.