Applications of Plaque Brachytherapy in Anterior Segment Ocular Tumors: A Clinical Review

Abstract

Episcleral and epicorneal plaque brachytherapy has been used for benign and malignant ocular tumors and growths, for example, the ocular surface pterygium and anterior segment tumors (conjunctival melanoma, conjunctival squamous cell carcinoma, iris melanoma, iridociliary melanoma, and ciliary body melanoma). Brachytherapy sources include the radionuclides iodine-125 (125I), palladium-103 (103Pd), ruthenium-106 (106Ru), strontium-90 (90Sr), and yttrium-90 (90Y). The American Brachytherapy Society (ABS) consensus guidelines, created by an international committee, suggest that per-treatment comparative ocular dosimetry be performed in order to choose the most favorable ocular dose distribution in treatment of uveal melanoma and retinoblastoma. Ocular surface tumors have no such guidelines to date. Ophthalmic plaque brachytherapy offers excellent tumor control, vision preservation, and globe salvage.