Plaque brachytherapy

Brachytherapy

Brachytherapy is a kind of radiation treatment in which the radiation seeds are placed very close to the tumor for a short period of time. This kind of radiation treatment provides a large dose of radiation to the tumor minimizing the radiation exposure to rest of the body.

Eye brachytherapy

In eye brachytherapy, a gold plaque (disc) with radioactive seeds is stitched to the surface of the eye and then removed after 3-5 days. The radiation plaque is custom made to fit the eye and the tumor. Your doctor will work in conjunction with a radiation oncologist to design the plaque. Both application and removal require surgery.

Surgery

The surgery is performed under general anesthesia. The designed plaque is sutured to the surface of the eye adjacent to the tumor by precisely localizing the tumor. After the plaque remains in the eye after the precise amount of time, a second surgery is done to remove the plaque. There is no radioactivity in the eye after the plaque is removed.

After plaque placement

• There will be a heavy patch of the eye and a lead shield to protect from radiation exposure. The patch and the shield needs to stay on till you return for the second surgery
• Pain medicine and nausea medicines will be recommended for use after surgery

After plaque removal

• A small patch will be placed after the plaque removal which can be removed in 1 day
• An ointment will be prescribed that needs to be used for 3 times a day for 4 weeks
• The eye will remain red and swollen for 4-6 weeks

Side effects of the radiation

• There is risk of bleeding and infection from the surgery
• The most significant side effect is radiation damage to the tissues of the eye including the retina and optic nerve. Your doctor will discuss ways to minimize the radiation side effects and treatment options if radiation changes develop
• There is no long term risk of second cancer with this kind of radiation
• Also other radiation side effects like fatigue, loss of hair are not seen with this localized radiation.