Scleral surgery intraocular tumour

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What does it involve?

This treatment involves destroying the intraocular tumours from the ocular surface without invading the eyeball. In principle, the scleral surgery technique is used primarily in melanin-type tumours, such as choroidal melanomas and, in some cases, vascular or metastatic tumours. The technique involves using, in most cases, a radioactive ruthenium-106, or sometimes an iodine-125, plaque. These plaques are placed on the surface of the eye, adjacent to the tumour.

When is it carried out?

The tumours that are treated in most cases are choroidal melanomas and metastatic and vascular tumours.

Prior examination

Prior to treating the tumour, it is very important to know the diagnosis as well as whether the tumour has spread to the rest of the body, or if the tumour is the metastasis of a primary tumour in another location. It is, therefore, essential to perform a full-body PET-CT screening test to detect for tumours that are larger than 5 mm in all organs of the body. It is also possible to carry out blood tests to assess the functioning of some organs and check for primary tumours.

Before the surgery

The most important precaution to take is to prevent tumour spread, and, to do so, it is essential to perform the technique with a microscope, as it is very delicate, and to have a good knowledge of the anatomy of the eyeball.

Surgery

The procedure is performed under local anaesthesia and involves dissecting the outer layer of the eyeball, the conjunctiva, and Tenon’s capsule to enable access to the sclera, the white wall of the eyeball. It is in the sclera that the radioactive plaque is placed after locating the tumour. The tumour is located by means of a magnifying glass for examining the fundus or transillumination, in which the pigmented nature of choroidal melanomas produce a very opaque transillumination in contrast to the white wall of the eyeball. In some cases, it is also necessary to apply other scleral techniques, such as the implantation of silicone rings, to release tension on the retina caused by tumours, laser photocoagulation or trans-scleral cryotherapy.

Risks

The main risk is tumour spread, but other risks include haemorrhaging in the vitreous cavity, retinal detachment and infections, although they are much less common.

Associated pathologies

FAQs

IMO Institute of Ocular Microsurgery

Josep María Lladó, 3
08035 Barcelona
Phone: (+34) 934 000 700
E-mail: international@imo.es
See map on Google Maps

By car

GPS navigator coordinates:
41º 24’ 38” N – 02º 07’ 29” E

Exit 7 of the Ronda de Dalt (mountain side). The clinic has a car park with more than 200 parking spaces.

By bus

Autobus H2: Rotonda de Bellesguard, parada 1540

Autobus 196: Josep Maria Lladó-Bellesguard, parada 3191

Autobuses H2, 123, 196: Ronda de Dalt – Bellesguard, parada 0071

IMO Madrid

C/ Valle de Pinares Llanos, 3
28035 Madrid
Phone: (+34) 910 783 783
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Public transport

Metro Lacoma (líne 7)
Autobuses:

  • Lines 49 & 64, stop “Senda del Infante”
  • Line N21, stop “Metro Lacoma”

Timetables

Patient care:
Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

IMO Andorra

Av. de les Nacions Unides, 17
AD700 Escaldes-Engordany, Andorra
Phone: (+376) 688 55 44
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IMO Manresa

C/ Carrasco i Formiguera, 33 (Baixos)
08242 – Manresa
Tel: (+34) 938 749 160
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Public transport

FGC. Line R5 & R50 direction Manresa. Station/Stop: Baixador de Manresa

Timetables

Monday to Friday, 08:30 A.M – 13:30 PM / 15:00 PM – 20:00 PM

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