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Subconjunctival ocular argyrosis Following Treatment with Ruthenium 106 Brachytherapy for Choroidal Melanoma

Khasati, Aya; Thaung, Caroline; Mudhar, Hardeep Singh; Wagner, Bart; Goggin, Patricia; Stoker, Ian; Sagoo, Mandeep S; ... Quhill, Hibba; + view all (2023) Subconjunctival ocular argyrosis Following Treatment with Ruthenium 106 Brachytherapy for Choroidal Melanoma. Ocular Oncology and Pathology , 9 (3-4) pp. 101-106. 10.1159/000531385. Green open access

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Abstract

Introduction: Ruthenium-106 (Ru-106) brachytherapy is one of the commonest eye-sparing treatments for choroidal melanoma. These patients require long-term surveillance of the treated tumour remnant to ensure there is no local recurrence. New or progressive pigmented lesions in treated eyes are often regarded as suspicious – especially if there are concerns of extra-scleral extension. // Case Presentations: We present two cases of posterior choroidal melanoma treated five and 10 years previously with Ru-106. Both cases developed subconjunctival dark/black lesions on the anterior surface of the eye in the quadrant of the conjunctival peritomy during Ru-106 treatment. Both had similar findings on histopathology: black, non-organic, particulate foreign material of varying confluence deposited on elastin and collagen fibres. Energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis confirmed the material contained silver. // Discussion: The Ru-106 applicator consists of a radioactive core of Ru-106 encapsulated within pure silver as a radiation shield. During surgical insertion, stainless steel suture needles and forceps can occasionally scratch the applicator’s silver eyelets and scatter microscopic particles of elemental silver into the operative field. These particles were likely deposited within the subconjunctival tissues of these patients during brachytherapy administration, leading to localised ocular argyrosis. Iatrogenic ocular argyrosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of new pigmented lesions in patients treated with Ru-106 brachytherapy. This study is the first to unequivocally identify the cause of some post-brachytherapy ocular surface pigmentation as caused by silver.

Type: Article
Title: Subconjunctival ocular argyrosis Following Treatment with Ruthenium 106 Brachytherapy for Choroidal Melanoma
Open access status: An open access version is available from UCL Discovery
DOI: 10.1159/000531385
Publisher version: https://doi.org/10.1159/000531385
Language: English
Additional information: This version is the author accepted manuscript. For information on re-use, please refer to the publisher's terms and conditions.
Keywords: Uveal melanoma, Ruthenium, Brachytherapy, Ocular argyrosis, Conjunctival pigmentation
UCL classification: UCL
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Brain Sciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Brain Sciences > Institute of Ophthalmology
URI: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10172880
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