Treatment of periocular carcinomas by interstitial iridium curitherapy: a series of 77 patients

OBJECTIVES: We used a pluridisciplinary approach with the participation of ophthalmologists, dermatologists and oncologists-radiotherapists to assess therapeutic results after interstitial iridium 192 curietherapy for carcino mas located in the periocular region. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective study included 77 patients with stage T1T2 carcinoma treated from 1997 to 1988. Median survival was 42 months. RESULTS: Disease control was obtained in 100% of the cases. Functional and esthetic results were evaluated using 4 criteria. Esthetic results were exc ellent in 71.4% of cases with no functional disorders in 88.3%. CONCLUSION: Interstitial curietherapy is a good indication for the treatmen t of small tumors of the periocular region. The esthetic result is excellen t with few minor complications which have little effect on patients quality of life.