Ru-106 plaque radiotherapy for vasoproliferative tumors of retina: a 15-year single-center experience

Purpose This study evaluates the outcomes of ruthenium-106 (Ru-106) plaque brachytherapy for vasoproliferative tumors (VPTs) of the ocular fundus in a single referral ocular oncology center. Methods The clinical charts of all patients diagnosed with VPT who underwent plaque radiotherapy from 2002 to 2017 were reviewed. Clinical features, types of treatment, outcomes and complications were evaluated. Results Of 46 patients with VPT diagnosis in our ocular oncology clinic, 25 (54.34%) cases were treated with Ru-106 plaque brachytherapy. Eleven patients (44%) were male, and the mean age at the time of diagnosis was 40.92 +/- 13.11 years. The mean follow-up time was 47.56 +/- 36.87 months. Inferotemporal quadrant was the most common site of the tumor (64.00%). The mean delivered apex and scleral dose was 101.56 +/- 6.51 and 412.26 +/- 113.66 Gray (Gy), respectively. Initial tumor length, width and thickness were 10.26 +/- 3.42, 8.05 +/- 2.83 and 4.27 +/- 1.10 mm, respectively. The mean tumor thickness decreased to 2.60 +/- 0.63 mm, postoperatively. Complete resolution of subretinal fluid around the tumor was achieved in 81.80% of cases. Visual acuity was more than 20/400 in 64% of patients before treatment and 60% of patients at last follow-up. Conclusion Our study showed that Ru-106 plaque radiotherapy is an effective and safe method of treatment in VPTs.