MR-guided laser-induced thermotherapy ( LITT) in patients with liver metastases of uveal melanoma.

Purpose Evaluation of the local tumour control rate and survival data for magnetic resonance ( MR) imaging-guided laser ablation of uveal malignant melanoma liver metastases by using laser-induced interstitial thermotherapy ( LITT). Materials and methods The LITT was performed in 18 patients with liver metastases ( n = 44) from uveal malignant melanoma. All patients tolerated this intervention well. With the Kaplan-Meier method, the survival rates were calculated. Indications for the procedure were defined for patients with no more than five metastases, none of which were larger than 5 cm in diameter: The Indication for LITT treatment were recurrent liver metastases after partial liver resection (22%), locally non-resectable tumours (17%) or metastases in both liver lobes (61%). Results The mean survival rate for all treated patients was 3.6 years (95% CI: 2.19, 5.06). We started the calculation on the date of diagnosis of the metastases treated with LITT. The median survival was 1.83 years; 1-year survival, 88%; 3-year survival 47%, 5-year survival 17%. Calculated after the first LITT treatment the median survival was 2.8 years (95% CI: 1.0, 5.0). 10 patients were treated by transarterial chemoembolization before LITT. Conclusion MR-guided LITT treatment shows a high local tumour control and survival rates in patients with liver metastases of uveal malignant melanoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]