Transpupillary thermotherapy for choroidal metastases

INTRODUCTION: We report on a case with bilateral choroidal metastases derived from a renal cell carcinoma 13 years after nephrectomy. The treatment modality is discussed. METHODS: A male patient (58 years of age) presented with asymptomatic bilateral choroidal metastases deriving from renal cell carcinoma. The right kidney had been removed because of renal cell carcinoma 13 years before the appearance of the choroidal metastases. He had full visual acuity (20/20) and normal intraocular pressure in both eyes. Fundus examination showed a small tumor in the peripheral choroidea of his right eye and an intermediate-sized solid tumor in the periphery of his left eye. RESULTS: The tumor of the right eye was treated by TTT and the tumor of the left eye by (106)Ru plaque radiotherapy. The tumors showed total regression into flat chorioretinal atrophies in both eyes and no tumor could be found 13 moths after treatment maintaining full visual acuity (20/20). CONCLUSION: Asymptomatic ocular metastases can develop even many years after removal of the primary tumor. TTT and (106)Ru brachytherapy are useful treatment modalities in cases of small and intermediate-sized choroidal metastases.     

Choroidal metastasis simulating uveal effusion syndrome: case report

We report a case of choroidal metastasis simulating uveal effusion syndrome. This patient with uveal metastasis from lung carcinoma presented with decreased vision in the left eye. Fundoscopic examination revealed pigmentary clumping, multiple choroidal nodules and serous retinal detachment. Fluorescein angioraphy revealed a leopard spots pattern similar to uveal effusion syndrome. Ultrasound revealed the presence of choroidal nodules with moderate internal reflectivity, choroidal thickening and serous retinal detachment. Optical coherence tomography showed retinal pigment epithelium tear and hyper-reflective nodules within the choroid and areas of serous retinal detachment. Image investigation demonstrated the presence of a solitary pulmonary nodule at the left apical lung. Choroidal metastasis can lead to a scenario that simulates uveal effusion syndrome. This possibility must be considered when having an atypical uveal effusion symptomatoloy and a systemic screening for systemic cancer should be performed.     

Presumed eccrine carcinoma metastatic to the choroid

The purpose of this article is to describe a patient with presumed choroidal metastasis from an eccrine adenocarcinoma of the scalp. A 45-year-old Caucasian woman presented with decreased visual acuity. Ophthalmologic examination was unremarkable. Her past medical history was significant for eccrine carcinoma of the scalp. The patient developed bilateral cervical lymph node metastases, and received chemotherapy and radiotherapy. She had recurrence of the scalp lesion and developed bone metastasis. The patient was again referred to an ophthalmologist owing to reduced visual acuity. Multiple choroidal metastases were detected in right eye, and one metastatic lesion in left eye. The patient passed away 2 months after choroidal metastases. This is the first report of choroidal metastases from an eccrine carcinoma. This is a rare aggressive neoplasm with poor outcome in most cases of metastatic disease, and in this case report, uveal metastasis was indicative of poor prognosis.     

Systemic chemotherapy and tamoxifen induced regression of choroidal metastasis from a breast carcinoma in a male

We report a case of a 55-year-old male patient with breast carcinoma, who developed choroidal metastasis. The patient had undergone mastectomy for carcinoma of right breast, five years ago. The patient was advised close follow-up for the left eye, as he was already on tamoxifen therapy (started a month ago) for spinal metastasis. On last follow-up, a year later, the choroidal lesion had completely scarred, with no recurrences. Systemic hormonal therapy like tamoxifen given for the breast primary and other systemic metastases may cause regression of the choroidal metastasis, thereby avoiding ocular radiotherapy. Medline search revealed only one published case of regression of choroidal metastasis from a male breast primary, on tamoxifen therapy.     

A case of diode laser photocoagulation in the treatment of choroidal metastasis of breast carcinoma

To report a single case of improvement on choroidal metastasis of breast cancer after laser photocoagulation. A 52-year-old female patient who complained of visual disturbance of the right eye with multiple states of metastasis of breast carcinoma. On initial examination, the right best-corrected visual acuity was 0.63. Right fundoscopy revealed an elevated mass-like lesion temporal to the macule with serous retinal detachment. The mass had a 3.5-disc diameter. A right fluorescein angiogram revealed hypofluorescence during the prearterial and arteriovenous phase and hyperfluorescence during the venous phase. The venous phase showed almost total masking of background choroidal fluorescence at the elevated lesion because of leakage and neovascularization. The patient was treated 4 times by diode laser photocoagulation in addition to chemotherapy. Fifty days after the diode laser treatments, the funduscopy examination and fluorescein angiogram revealed that the serous retinal detachment had been absorbed, the choroid had become flat, the lesion had been reduced in size and hyperfluorescence. The right best-corrected visual acuity was improved to 0.8. Laser photocoagulation appears not to cause any problems for the patient and may be an efficient treatment for patients with choroidal breast carcinoma.     

Just another metastatic carcinoid tumour to the uveal tract

We describe the clinic, image, and histopathologic features of a well differentiated neuroendocrine carcinoma (carcinoid tumour) metastatic to choroid and ciliary body in a 52-year-old Mexican Mestizo man. The ophthalmologic examination showed an inferior choroidal mass accompanied by exudative retinal detachment. Ultrasound B-Scan study revealed a diffuse thickened choroid with overlying serous retinal detachment, ultrasound A-Scan revealed a high internal reflectivity solid lesion. Ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM) evidenced a dome shaped ciliary body mass, presumptive diagnosis was uveal tract metastatic disease. Scleral flap choroidal incisional biopsy was performed. Microscopic evaluation demonstrated a hypercellular lesion replacing choroid, composed by cohesive oval-round cells with finely granular chromatin arranged in organoid pattern. Immunohistochemical reactions were Pankeratin AE1/AE3 (+), Cytokeratin CK5/6 (+), Chromogranin A (+), Ki67 (20%), typical well differentiated neuroendocrine carcinoma (carcinoid tumour) was diagnosed. Patient had a mediastinal carcinoid diagnosed 3?years earlier. Metastatic cancer to the eye is perhaps the leading cause of intraocular tumour, despite this fact metastases are rarely seen by the ophthalmologist while the patient is alive. Intraocular metastasis should be considered in the presence of ciliary body or/and choroidal amelanotic or pigmented mass and serous retinal detachment in a patient with history of carcinoid tumor, althought its low frequency (2.2%).     

Photodynamic therapy for choroidal metastasis from carcinoid tumor

PURPOSE: To determine the efficacy of photodynamic therapy for the treatment of a choroidal metastasis unresponsive to chemotherapy and radiation therapy. DESIGN: Interventional case report. METHODS: Photodynamic therapy with verteporfin was performed. Visual acuity, local tumor control, and complications were assessed. RESULTS: A 72-year-old woman was diagnosed with bilateral, biopsy-proven choroidal metastasis from a pulmonary carcinoid tumor that was resistant to chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The tumor in the left eye caused a retinal detachment and vision loss to light perception. The smaller lesion in the right eye progressively enlarged toward the fovea despite therapy and was treated with photodynamic therapy with verteporfin. Within 2 months, the exudative detachment resolved, the visual acuity returned to baseline, and the tumor volume decreased by 50%. CONCLUSION: Photodynamic therapy may be an effective treatment option for selected patients with choroidal metastasis.     

Transpupillary Thermotherapy in the Treatment of Choroidal Metastasis from Breast Carcinoma

BACKGROUND: Most patients who develop metastatic carcinoma to the choroid are managed by local radiation or chemotherapy. Since transpupillary thermotherapy (TTT) is currently gaining attention as an optional treatment for choroidal melanomas and hemangiomas, we sought to determine whether TTT is suitable for treatment of solitary choroidal metastasis at the posterior pole. METHOD: We report on a patient with decreased vision due to a serous macular detachment in a eye with a solitary choroidal metastasis from breast carcinoma, who was managed by TTT. RESULTS: After two months of follow up, total re-absorption of the serous macular detachment was achieved and the patient recovered full visual acuity in the treated eye. The choroidal mass became atrophic and hyperpigmentation of the retinal pigment epithelium and retinal folds in the macular region were observed. After six months of TTT, the ocular picture remained unchanged. CONCLUSION: TTT can be considered an acceptable therapeutic option for solitary choroidal metastasis associated with serous retinal detachment.     

Ultra Wide-Field Imaging of Choroidal Metastasis Secondary to Primary Breast Cancer

Purpose: To demonstrate the ability of ultra wide-field fundus imaging to document the response to treatment of a choroidal metastatic lesion from primary breast carcinoma. Design: Observational case report. Methods: A 45 year old female with a history of metastatic breast cancer and progressive vision loss in the right eye was noted to have an elevated, minimally pigmented choroidal lesion in the superior fundus periphery associated with a serous retinal detachment involving the macula. Ultra wide-field imaging allowed for comparison of the lesion size and secondary serous retinal detachment in response to systemic chemotherapy. Results: Over a 3 month follow up period of observation while the patient received systemic chemotherapy the lesion demonstrated increased growth and increased subretinal fluid. Conclusion: Ultra wide-field fundus photography allowed for accurate documentation of growth of a peripheral choroidal metastatic lesion and associated serous retinal detachment.     

Choroidal metastasis: case reports and review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: Choroidal metastases are recognized as the most common intraocular malignancy. Their diagnosis has become more common due to increased emphasis on comprehensive eye examinations for cancer patients and the improved life expectancy of patients with metastatic disease. They are most prevalent in female patients with breast cancer and male patients with lung cancer. METHODS: A thorough fundus examination, coupled with the use of A-scan and B-scan ultrasonography, will aid in their diagnosis. There are many ways of treating these tumors, including radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and monitoring. CASE REPORTS: Two case reports of patients diagnosed with choroidal metastases are discussed. Case 1 involved a patient with lung cancer who manifested a large bullous exudative retinal detachment due to an underlying choroidal metastasis. Case 2 dealt with treatment of a patient with metastatic transitional cell cancer who manifested a shallow exudative retinal detachment caused by a choroidal metastasis. CONCLUSIONS: Due to progress of chemotherapeutic medications, the number of patients who manifest choroidal metastases will continue to increase. It is essential for the practitioner to be able to recognize this disease process to prevent visual loss and institute referral for proper treatment for metastatic disease.     

Hypertensive choroidopathy: A case report

The authors report a case of exudative retinal detachment of the posterior pole and peripheral choroidal detachment in a patient with renovascular accelerated hypertension. The peculiar clinical situation of this patient was comparable with experimental models of hypertension recently reported in the literature. Both the retinal and the choroidal detachment regressed after blood pressure stabilization with systemic antihypertensive therapy, supporting a choroidal pathogenesis for the chorioretinal lesions.     

Choroidal metastasis from submandibular salivary gland adenoid cystic carcinoma.

A case of choroidal metastasis from an adenoid cystic carcinoma ofsubmandibular salivary gland is described. A 50-year-old woman with loss of vision in her left eye for 1 week was evaluated clinically, radiologically, and pathologically. A fundus image of the left eye showed an amelanotic, plateau-shaped choroidal mass measuring 17 x 12 X 4 mm with overlying exudative retinal detachment. A choroidal biopsy was consistent with metastatic adenoid cystic carcinoma from her submandibular salivary gland treated 5 years previously. She was treated with external beam radiotherapy but developed liver and lung metastases 3 months later and died within 1 month. All of the metastases demonstrated a basaloid histologic variant of adenoid cystic carcinoma that is known for its aggressive potential. Salivary gland carcinoma rarely metastasizes to the choroid; however, evaluation of patients with this carcinoma should include ophthalmic examination.     

Neuroendocrine tumours metastatic to the uvea: diagnosis by fine needle aspiration biopsy

Background Uveal metastasis from a neuroendocrine tumour is rare and can simulate other primary or metastatic uveal tumours, both clinically and cytomorphologically. We describe four cases of uveal metastasis from a neuroendocrine tumour diagnosed by fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB).Methods Four patients were referred for evaluation of a recently detected fundus mass. Two patients had a history of malignant, non-ocular, neuroendocrine neoplasms (Merkel cell carcinoma and lung carcinoid in one patient each). The third patient had a mediastinal mass that had been biopsied inconclusively, while the last patient reported a persistent cough.Results Ophthalmic examination revealed an amelanotic ciliochoroidal mass in 2 cases and a lightly melanotic and a pale orange choroidal mass in 1 case each. Partial, non-rhegmatogenous, retinal detachment was present in 3 patients. Ocular ultrasonography revealed moderate to high internal reflectivity of the mass in 3 cases and low internal reflectivity in the 4th. Our differential diagnosis in all cases was metastatic carcinoma versus primary uveal melanoma. FNAB of the intraocular mass was performed in all patients to establish a pathologic diagnosis and guide subsequent management. Cytomorphology and immunohistochemical profiles of the aspirates were consistent with metastatic neuroendocrine neoplasms in all patients. Our final diagnosis was metastatic lung carcinoid in 2 patients and metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma and small cell lung carcinoma in 1 patient each. Immediately after FNAB, the intraocular tumour was treated by plaque radiotherapy (3 patients) or fractionated external beam radiotherapy (1 patient). All tumours treated regressed satisfactorily. Two patients expired due to widespread lung carcinoid 11 and 12 months after our initial evaluation respectively. The other two patients are still alive after 38 and 64 months respectively.Conclusions Neuroendocrine tumours are a heterogeneous group of neoplasms whose diagnosis ultimately depends on the identification of specific cell markers (e.g., neuron-specific enolase, chromogranin, synaptophysin), hormones and neurotransmitters (e.g., gastrin, serotonin, adrenocorticotrophic hormone [ACTH]). FNAB with immunohistochemical stains for neuroendocrine markers can establish a pathologic diagnosis in cases of uveal metastasis from a neuroendocrine tumour. To our knowledge, our patient with Merkel cell carcinoma is the first pathologically proven case of uveal metastasis from this primary malignancy.Meeting presentation: XXIVth Club Jules Gonin meeting, Athens, Greece, September 2004     

肺癌脉络膜转移的临床病理分析

目的 观察肺癌脉络膜转移的临床及病理组织学特征。 方法 回顾性分析6例经病理组织学检查确诊为源自肺癌脉络膜转移患者的临床特征、影像学表现、病理组织学改变、分型。 结果 6例患者均表现为严重视力障碍，3例患者有剧烈眼痛。6例患者可见后极部扁平实质性占位病灶,5例患者伴视网膜脱离；1例患者行荧光素眼底血管造影（fundus flourescein angiography，FFA）检查，发现有遮蔽荧光和透见荧光相间的病灶，其边缘有针尖大小的荧光渗漏环；3例患者行眼部CT扫描检查，均表现为扁平状均质中高密度肿块影；1例行MRI扫描检查， T1W呈高于玻璃体的高信号, T2W瘤体呈低信号；5例患者肺部原发病变病理组织学检查诊断为肺腺癌，1例诊断为小细胞肺癌。脉络膜转移癌5例病理诊断为肺腺癌脉络膜转移 ，1例为小细胞癌肺癌脉络膜转移。 结论 源自肺癌的脉络膜转移癌以视力骤降、眼痛、眼底扁平实质性占位病灶及继发视网膜脱离为主要的临床表现。转移癌的病理组织学表现多与原发病灶相似，组织学分型以腺癌常见。 （中华眼底病杂志，2003，19：333-404）     

Presumed metastatic transitional cell carcinoma of the choroids.

Ocular metastases from urinary tract carcinoma are extremely rare. Three previous cases of choroidal metastases from transitional cell carcinoma from the urinary bladder have been described, as have 2 cases of orbital metastases from bladder carcinoma. This is believed to be the first reported case of choroidal metastasis from transitional cell carcinoma of the renal pelvis in a 50-year-old female patient. The tumour, despite the absence of extension beyond the pelvic wall, showed disseminated metastases that proved resistant to chemotherapy. The fluorescein angiographic and ultrasonographic findings are described and the literature is briefly reviewed.     

Choroidal metastasis of a gingival squamous cell carcinoma

PURPOSE: To report a case of choroidal metastasis of a gingival squamous cell carcinoma. DESIGN: Interventional case report. METHODS: Review of the clinical history and pathologic findings. RESULTS: A 59-year-old woman with a history of right gingival squamous cell carcinoma presented with sudden dimness of vision in the left eye of 4 weeks duration. Fundus examination of the left eye revealed a yellowish elevated subretinal lesion involving the optic disk and macula. Fine-needle aspiration biopsy of the choroidal lesion, left eye, revealed metastatic squamous carcinoma cells. The patient was referred to a radiation oncologist for further management. CONCLUSION: Choroidal metastasis from gingival squamous cell carcinoma is rare, and it may develop from hematogeneous spread.     

Clinical findings in unilateral acute idiopathic maculopathy

We report a case of unilateral acute idiopathic maculopathy (UAIM) with new clinical findings. A 34-year-old Japanese man had a neurosensory retinal detachment (~5 disk diameters) with yellowish-white exudates at the macula in the left eye (visual acuity (VA) 0.4). Fluorescein angiography (FA) showed early hypofluorescent spots and late pooling in the subretinal space. Three weeks after onset, indocyanine green angiography (IA) showed numerous hypofluorescent spots at the lesion. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) showed subretinal fluids and an elevated choroidal lesion with low reflectivity, suggesting choroidal edema. The VA and fundus appearance spontaneously resolved without treatment three months after onset. The VA was 1.0 six months after onset. Irregular pigmentation remained at the macular lesion. The main UAIM pathology may be outer retinal layer and retinal pigment epithelial inflammation. FA, IA, and OCT suggested that choroidal inflammation may be involved in the pathogenesis of UAIM.     

Red lesions of the iris, choroid, and skin secondary to metastatic carcinoma of the thyroid: a review

An 83-year-old man was seen with a history of bilateral progressive loss of vision of 1 month's duration. On examination, there was a reddish, nodular lesion adjacent to the right side of the nose. Slit-lamp examination revealed a reddish iris mass in the left eye. Ophthalmoscopic examination revealed two orange choroidal lesions in the right eye and a large subretinal hemorrhage in the posterior pole with a central reddish vascular lesion in the left eye. An excisional biopsy of the skin lesion was performed. A diagnosis of metastatic follicular thyroid carcinoma was made according to the histopathologic findings and immunohistochemistry. The patient had no known history of thyroid malignancy and a metastatic survey revealed widespread metastasis. The patient had a total thyroidectomy followed by two series of radioactive iodine ablation. The iris lesion completely resolved and the choroidal lesions in the right eye showed partial regression during the follow-up period. Ocular and skin metastasis secondary to thyroid carcinoma is uncommon. In a review of English literature we found reports of 12 clinically well-documented cases of choroidal metastasis and two cases of iris metastasis. Our case and review of the previous cases reveal that reddish/orange color is a commonly observed feature of the uveal metastasis of thyroid carcinoma. Although ocular and skin metastases from thyroid carcinoma are rare, this possibility should be considered in the differential diagnosis of reddish-colored iris and choroidal masses as well as reddish nodular lesions of the scalp, face, and neck.     

Choroidal melanoma metastatic to the contralateral choroid

PURPOSE: To report metastasis of choroidal melanoma to the contralateral choroid. METHODS: Interventional case report. In a 49-year-old Caucasian female, a primary choroidal melanoma, left eye, was diagnosed and treated with Ruthenium-106 plaque radiotherapy. The choroidal melanoma showed excellent regression with flattening of the mass and adjacent chorioretinal atrophy. RESULTS: Fifteen years after brachytherapy for choroidal melanoma, left eye, the patient developed a metastatic melanoma to the contralateral choroid as the first sign of metastasis. No history of oculo(dermal) melanocytosis or cutaneous melanoma existed. Systemic evaluation disclosed multiple metastases confined to the liver. CONCLUSION: Metastasis to the contralateral choroid can be the first sign of metastasis from choroidal melanoma.