Cancer textbooks tell us to remove or destroy primary cancers to prevent spread (metastasis) to other parts of the body. In the 1950s, most eyes with choroidal melanoma were removed. Some small anterior choroidal, ciliary body and iris melanomas were locally resected. However, The multicenter, international, Collaborative Ocular Melanoma Study taught us that removal of the eye was not necessary for moderately sized choroidal melanomas. That eye and vision sparing plaque radiation therapy was statistically equivalent for the prevention of metastatic disease. However, surgical removal, including local resection names PLSU or partial lamellar sclerouvectomy continued to be used around the world. Meanwhile, others expanded the use of plaque radiation to anterior uveal, ciliary body and iris melanomas. This PodCast compares and contrasts resection versus plaque therapy for treatment of anterior uveal melanoma.

Paul T. Finger, MD, FACS The New York Eye Cancer Center 115 East 61st Street New York City, New York, USA 10065

E-mail: [email protected]

Telephone: (011) 212 832 8170