Radiotherapy of Malignant Melanomata of the Eye

Abstract

Pigmented tumours of the eye may arise from a variety of cells and the ophthalmological melanomata differ from those arising in the skin in several important respects. The relationship of benign to malignant melanomata is discussed and the possibility of hormonal factors playing some part in the production of epibulbar melanomata is considered. The clinical features of the various forms of melanoma and the factors governing their radiosen-sitivity are described. An account is given of the various radiation treatment techniques employed with their complications. Among the conclusions reached are that the limbal and conjunctival malignant melanomata are slow growing, radiosensitive tumours with a good prognosis; that cases of precancerous melanosis can be kept under observation, and cancerous melanosis is often a radiosensitive lesion responding well to radiotherapy and thus enabling patients to avoid orbital exenteration.