Evaluation of radiation maculopathy after treatment of choroidal melanoma with ruthenium-106 using optical coherence tomography angiography

Background To assess the impact of brachytherapy on macular microvasculature utilizing optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) in treated choroidal melanoma. Methods In this retrospective observational case series, we reviewed the recorded data of the patients with unilateral extramacular choroidal melanoma treated with ruthenium - 106 (Ru-106) plaque radiotherapy with a follow-up period of more than 6 months. Automatically measured OCTA retinal parameters were analysed after image processing. Results Thirty-one eyes of 31 patients with the mean age of 51.1 years were recruited. Six eyes had no radiation maculopathy (RM). From 25 eyes with RM, nine eyes (36%) revealed a burnout macular microvasculature with imperceptible vascular details. Twenty-one non-irradiated fellow eyes from the enrolled patients were considered as the control group. Foveal and optic disc radiation dose had the highest value to predict the burnout pattern (ROC, AUC: 0.763, 0.727). Superficial and deep foveal avascular zone (FAZ) were larger in irradiated eyes in comparison to non-irradiated fellow eyes (1629 mu m(2) vs. 428 mu m(2), P = 0.005; 1837 mu m(2) vs 268 mu m(2), P = 0.021; respectively). Foveal and parafoveal vascular area density (VAD) and vascular skeleton density (VSD) in both superficial and deep capillary plexus (SCP and DCP) were decreased in all irradiated eyes in comparison with non-irradiated fellow eyes (P < 0.001). Compared with non-irradiated fellow eyes, irradiated eyes without RM had significantly lower VAD and VSD at foveal and parafoveal DCP (all P < 0.02). However, these differences at SCP were not statistically significant. Conclusion The OCTA is a valuable tool for evaluating RM. Initial subclinical microvascular insult after Ru-106 brachytherapy is more likely to occur in DCP. The deep FAZ area was identified as a more critical biomarker of BCVA than superficial FAZ in these patients.

Automated summary

This study assessed the impact of brachytherapy on macular microvasculature using OCTA, finding a correlation between foveal and optic disc radiation dose and burnout pattern prediction. The microvascular status in irradiated eyes differed significantly from non-irradiated fellow eyes and had a significant impact on BCVA in these patients.