The quality of life is determined by patients’ physical, social, and mental functioning and is based on subjective assessments. No cluster analysis has previously been conducted to evaluate the quality of life (general health and visual function) in patients with small choroidal melanoma after various organ-preserving treatments.
OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to assess quality of life, including general health and visual function, after different types of organ-preserving treatment in patients with small choroidal melanoma using cluster analysis.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
A cluster analysis of the quality of life was performed, assessing changes in visual function (VF-14 — Visual Function Index), and physical and mental health (SF-36 — MOS 36-item Short-Form Health Survey) in 110 patients with small choroidal melanoma (mean age 59.1±11.6 years) after destructive laser photocoagulation, transpupillary thermotherapy, brachytherapy. The follow-up period was 8 [6; 10] years. Statistical analysis included Ward’s minimum variance method, Euclidean distance, and the Kruskal-Wallis test.
RESULTS
Subjectively assessed visual acuity was dependent on the treatment method, predominantly among female patients (p<0.01). Destructive laser photocoagulation demonstrated the best quality-of-life results (79.7±21.1%), transpupillary thermotherapy — intermediate (70.2±22%), and brachytherapy — low results (61±27.4%). No differences in physical and mental health indicators were detected after the three treatment methods. Pairwise analysis of individual physical and mental health parameters showed no differences between groups for both sexes.
CONCLUSION
The visual acuity in patients with small choroidal melanoma subjectively assessed by cluster analysis depends on the treatment method, tumor localization, and significantly decreases after brachytherapy, affecting the quality of life mainly in women (p<0.017). Cluster analysis of the quality of life of patients with small choroidal melanoma revealed stable mental and physical state of health of patients with small choroidal melanoma after various types of organ-preserving treatment (p>0.05) regardless of gender.
