Abstract

Laser-induced hyperthermic treatment of ocular tumors represents a promising clinical modality which could be used either alone or in conjunction with ionizing radiation or chemotherapy. The presentation emphasizes a discussion of the relevant optical and thermal properties of ocular media and tumors. Experimental results from murine tumor model studies of the optical and thermal properties of tumors, such as retinoblastomas and malignant melanomas, are given. The optical penetration depth (attenuation to 1/e = 0.37) of heavily pigmented tumors such as melanotic melanomas is <0.5 mm in the visible part of the spectrum, whereas the penetration depth in the near IR is more than four times larger. The penetration depth of retinoblastomas is, however, significantly larger. The optical penetration depth for this tumor ranges from 1.6 mm in the 488–515-nm region and up to ~7.5 mm at 1064-nm wavelength. The temperature distribution is monitored during laser irradiation, and the experimental results are discussed in terms of a mathematical model for this kind of tumor.

© 1988 Optical Society of America