Primary transpupillary thermotherapy (TTT) for malignant choroidal melanoma

2002

. Purpose:  To evaluate the efficacy of transpupillary thermotherapy (TTT) as the only method of treatment for small choroidal melanoma. Patients and Methods:  In a prospective non-randomized analysis, 20 patients with primary choroidal melanoma (posterior to the equator with base ≤ 2 and thickness ≤ 4.5 mm) were treated with TTT as the only method of treatment (diode laser at 810 nm, beam diameter 3 mm, power setting 0.3–0.9 W, exposure time 20–37 min). During follow-up of at least 6 months, clinical aspects, ultrasonographic tumour thickness, fluorescein and indocyanine green angiographic patterns, visual acuity and ocular side-effects were recorded. Results:  In 17 eyes the tumour regres…