IngentaConnect Influence of uveal melanoma therapy on patients' quality of life:...

Authors: Chabert, Sophie¹; Velikay-Parel, Michaela¹; Zehetmayer, Martin¹

Source: Acta Ophthalmologica Scandinavica, Volume 82, Number 1, February 2004 , pp. 25-31(7)

Abstract:

Purpose: The objective of this study was to describe the quality of life of 98 patients treated with brachytherapy or stereotactic external beam irradiation, either with the Leksell Gamma Knife^® or a 6-MV LINAC.

Methods: The EORTC QLQ-C30 and the EORTC QLQ-OPT37 psychological questionnaires and the HADS-D scale were used. Two visual analogue scales (VASs) were applied to compare overall quality of life before and after treatment.

Results: The results revealed no significant differences in quality of life (p = 0.215) among treatments with different methods of radiotherapy. Comparison of quality of life before and after therapy did, however, indicate a decrease in quality following radiotherapy. The average binocular visual acuity (VA) was 0.8 (range 0.3−1). Complications arising from the treatment included a reduction in VA in the affected eye, keratitis, cataract, scleral and corneal necrosis, radiation retinopathy, radiation optic neuropathy, retinal detachment and glaucoma.

Conclusion: Due to the diagnosis revealed and the subsequent radiotherapy, patients with uveal melanoma experienced a reduced quality of life. However, compared to patients with other types of cancer, they seemed to feel relatively well and showed fewer signs of deterioration.

Keywords: quality of life; uveal melanoma; anxiety; depression; psychological study

Document Type: Research article

DOI: 10.1046/j.1600-0420.2003.0210.x

Affiliations: 1: Department of Ophthalmology and Optometry, University of Vienna, Medical Faculty, Vienna, Austria

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Influence of uveal melanoma therapy on patients' quality of life: a psychological study