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This abstract is assigned to session AOB FP

Title

Ruthenium brachytherapy in conjunctival melanoma

Purpose	In 2018, ruthenium brachytherapy, a beta-emitter, was introduced at the department of ophthalmology in Leuven. With this presentation we will illustrate and review the results with ruthenium brachytherapy.
Methods	Case review and literature study. Ruthenium brachytherapy is applied after excision of the conjunctival melanoma, and calculated to deliver a dose of 100 Gy at 1 mm depth.
Results	In 4 patients (aged 10 to 82 years) with conjunctival melanoma, ruthenium brachytherapy was used as an adjuvant therapy. The application of the ruthenium plaque lasted for 6,8 or 9 hours. Irritation and dry eye feeling was limited to he first month after application. In the limited follow-up no recurrence was seen, nor any irradiation side effect.
Conclusion	With the introduction of ruthenium brachytherapy we have a safe therapy for the adjuvant treatment of bulbar conjunctival melanomas. A research of the literature shows that adjuvant therapy in conjunctival melanomas is important in reducing the number of recurrences, and tends to result in a better survival.
Conflict of interest	No
Details of conflicting interests	/

Authors 1

Last name	VAN RENTERGHEM
Initials	V
Department	KULeuven, dept ophthalmology
City	Leuven

Authors 2

Last name	MISSOTTEN
Initials	G
Department	KULeuven, dept ophthalmology - Jessa Hospital Hasselt, dept ophthalmology
City	Hasselt - Leuven