Primary treatment of choroidal amelanotic melanoma with photodynamic therapy.

Abstract

The management of choroidal melanoma involves a delicate balance between preserving vision and preventing metastasis. Plaque brachytherapy has become standard management of most small lesions; however, this can result in radiation retinopathy and optic neuropathy. Transpupillary thermotherapy avoids these side-effects; however, it can also result in visual loss and its effectiveness is limited in amelanotic lesions. Photodynamic therapy with verteporfin has shown promise in animal studies of choroidal melanoma, and has recently been used in the management of lesions that have failed to respond to conventional therapy. The authors report a case of primary treatment of a small choroidal amelanotic melanoma with photodynamic therapy using verteporfin.

• Authors: Mark J Donaldson, Lyndell Lim, C Alex Harper, John Mackenzie, William G Campbell
• Journal: Clinical & experimental ophthalmology (Clin Exp Ophthalmol) Vol. 33 Issue 5 Pg. 548-9 (Oct 2005) ISSN: 1442-6404 [Print] Australia
• PMID: 16181294 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Photosensitizing Agents
• Porphyrins
• Verteporfin

Topics

• Adult
• Choroid Neoplasms (diagnostic imaging, drug therapy, pathology)
• Female
• Humans
• Melanoma, Amelanotic (diagnostic imaging, drug therapy, pathology)
• Photochemotherapy
• Photosensitizing Agents (therapeutic use)
• Porphyrins (therapeutic use)
• Treatment Outcome
• Ultrasonography
• Verteporfin