Timing of Radiotherapy in Uveal Melanoma: A SEER-Based Comparison of Preoperative, Postoperative, and Intraoperative Approaches

The study analyzed the effect of radiotherapy timing relative to surgery on survival rates in patients with uveal melanoma using data from the SEER database. A total of 1,198 patients were included and divided into three groups: preoperative radiotherapy, intraoperative radiotherapy, and postoperative radiotherapy. Preoperative radiotherapy showed the highest median survival (4.93 years), followed by postoperative radiotherapy (4.76 years) and intraoperative radiotherapy (4.02 years). The preoperative strategy reduced the hazard of all-cause mortality by 42%, 50%, and 60% at 5-, 7-, and 10-year follow-up compared with intraoperative radiotherapy. Postoperative radiotherapy did not significantly reduce cancer-specific mortality compared with intraoperative radiotherapy. Preoperative radiotherapy was associated with higher overall survival and lower mortality rates than intraoperative radiotherapy over 10 years of follow-up.