Intraocular dissemination of uveal melanoma cells following radiotherapy: Evolving management over the past decade

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To describe the presentation and the authors' evolving management strategy for intraocular dissemination of uveal melanoma cells following radiotherapy during the past decade. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with uveal melanoma who developed intraocular dissemination of pigmented cells following radiotherapy. Histopathology was available in two cases. RESULTS: Four patients underwent treatment for progressive intraocular dissemination of uveal melanoma cells at 9 to 41 months following I-125 plaque radiotherapy (three patients) or proton beam radiotherapy (one patient). Treatments included primary enucleation (one patient), vitrectomy followed later by enucleation (one patient), and vitrectomy followed by intravitreal chemotherapy (two patients). Enucleated eyes demonstrated diffuse invasion of intraocular tissues by viable melanoma cells. No patient has developed systemic metastasis to date. CONCLUSIONS: Intraocular dissemination of pigmented cells following radiotherapy for uveal melanoma should raise suspicion for viable invasive melanoma cells. Prompt vitrectomy with intravitreal chemotherapy can be effective in avoiding enucleation in selected cases.