We studied the destructive effect of hyperthermia at sub-photocoagulation level of 45-60 degrees C on melanomas. Optimal conditions for spreading of heat into tissue are a wavelength of 700-900 nm, a temperature of 45-60 degrees C, an exposure time of 1 minute or more, and a beam diameter of several millimeters. In hamsters with subcutaneous melanomas we obtained a tumour necrosis of 6 mm depth at 60 degrees C and one minute exposure time. We performed transpupillary thermotherapy (TTT) with a diode laser at 810 nm in patients with choroidal melanomas prior to enucleation. Treatment is based on the fortunate situation that irradiation at this wavelength combines optimal tissue penetration with a low absorption by clear ocular media of 5% or less. In 3 TTT-treated eyes histopathology showed a depth of necrosis of 0.9, 3.4, and 3.9 mm. TTT may become a new useful treatment modality for choroidal melanoma but its ultimate value has yet to be assessed.

No abstract

(BrJ Ophthalmol 1994; 78: 244-248)

Not only local parameters but also genetic determinants like the HLA genes may play a role in the development and clinical behavior of malignant tumors. In skin melanoma the presence of HLA-B40 is associated with a poor prognosis. We tested the hypothesis that the clinical behavior of uveal melanoma is influenced by the HLA type of the patient. The HLA types of 44 patients with uveal melanoma had been determined before operation with a view to using the cornea of the enucleated eye for an HLA-matched corneal transplantation. We compared the ABO and HLA types of the patients with the development of metastases and with the ten-year patient survival. An association was observed between the presence of HLA-B40 and death due to metastasis of uveal melanoma. We conclude that the HLA type of the patient may influence the clinical behavior not only of skin melanoma but also of uveal melanoma.

A follow-up study of 113 patients with suspicious iris nevi who were referred to our clinic between 1973 and 1991 was carried out by: reviewing their clinical records, fluorescein angiography, obtaining recent data with cooperation of their own or the referring ophthalmologist and contacting patients for reexamination. After examination the diagnoses were: 64 suspicious nevi, 23 melanomas, 15 ciliary body tumors with iris involvement and 11 other pseudomelanomas. In the group of suspicious nevi 86% was localized in the inferior part and 66% in the temporal part of the iris; for the melanoma group these figures were 78% and 75% respectively. The chamber angle was more often involved in the melanoma group, 40% against 17% in the suspicious nevi group. In this group 11 cases (21.6%) showed growth during the follow-up (mean 10.6 years). In three cases the tumor was surgically removed, with as histopathologic diagnosis: 1 xanthogranuloma, 1 neurolemmoma and 1 possible melanoma. In the melanoma group 16 lesions (76%) showed growth during the follow-up (mean 7.2 years), in most cases within 5 years of the initial diagnosis. The lesion was surgically removed in 11 cases. The histopathologic diagnoses were: 8 melanomas, 1 xanthogranuloma, 1 possible melanoma and 1 metastasis of a skin melanoma. Our study shows that periodic ophthalmic check-ups are of great importance in the management of iris lesions suspect for melanoma.