Which Type of Plaque is Better?

There exist 3 common types of eye-plaques used to destroy choroidal melanomas. They include: beta-emitters (ruthenium-106, Strontium-90) and seeded plaques iodine-125, palladium-103. The beta-emitters are popular in low socio-economic environments because they can be re-used for many patients. Iodine-125 gained its popularity as a treatment arm for the North American Collaborative Ocular Melanoma Study. The use of palladium-103 seeds in gold eye plaques was invented by Dr. Finger in 1991. Since that time, 6 North American Centers have adopted its use. Both the American Brachytherapy Society and the American Association of Physicists in Medicine have demonstrated advantages related to palladium-103.

Paul T. Finger, MD, FACS The New York Eye Cancer Center 115 East 61st Street New York City, New York, USA 10065 E-mail: pfinger@eyecancer.com Telephone: (011) 212 832 8170