SUCTION ATTACHMENT FOR STEREOTAXIC RADIOSURGERY OF INTRAOCULAR MALIGNANCIES

We designed a suction attachment for the radiosurgical treatment of in traocular malignancies with the Leksell gamma unit (Gamma Knife). Our device consists of a circular suction chamber and an adjustable unit t o be fixed to the Leksell stereotactic head frame. All components are made of plastic materials in order to avoid artifacts in CT or MRT ima ging. A permanent suction of 600-800 mbar is provided by a standard va cuum pump, powered by a portable battery. Suction times up to 40 min w ere well tolerated in all cases. We successfully used this device, per forming 17 radiosurgical treatments in 8 patients with large or extra- large uveal melanomas and one patient suffering from a choroidal metas tasis.