Trans-scleral local resection of toxic choroidal melanoma after proton beam radiotherapy.

Abstract

AIM:

To report on trans-scleral local resection of choroidal melanoma for exudative retinal detachment and neovascular glaucoma (toxic tumour syndrome) after proton beam radiotherapy (PBR).

METHODS:

A non-randomised, prospective study of secondary trans-scleral local resection of choroidal melanoma for exudative retinal detachment with or without neovascular glaucoma after PBR. The patients were treated at the Liverpool Ocular Oncology Centre between February 2000 and April 2008. The trans-scleral local resection was performed with a lamellar-scleral flap, using systemic hypotension to reduce haemorrhage.

RESULTS:

12 patients (six women, six men) with a mean age of 51 years (range 20-75) were included in this study. The tumour margins extended anterior to ora serrata in six patients. On ultrasonography, the largest basal tumour dimension averaged 12.4 mm (range 6.8-18.1) and the tumour height averaged 7.1 mm (range 4.2-10.7). The retinal detachment was total in seven patients. Neovascular glaucoma was present in four patients. The time between PBR and local resection had a mean of 17.4 months (range 1-84). The ophthalmic follow-up time after the local resection had a mean of 46.2 months (range 14-99). At the latest known status, the eye was conserved in 10 patients, with a flat retina in all these patients and visual acuity equal or better than 6/30 in four patients. The reasons for enucleation were: patient request for enucleation when rhegmatogenous retinal detachment complicated the resection (one patient) and phthisis (one patient).

CONCLUSIONS:

Exudative retinal detachment, rubeosis and neovascular glaucoma after PBR of a choroidal melanoma can resolve after trans-scleral local resection of the tumour. Our findings suggest that these complications are caused by the persistence of the irradiated tumour within the eye ('toxic tumour syndrome').

• Authors: Lazaros Konstantinidis, Carl Groenewald, Sarah E Coupland, Bertil Damato
• Journal: The British journal of ophthalmology (Br J Ophthalmol) Vol. 98 Issue 6 Pg. 775-9 (Jun 2014) ISSN: 1468-2079 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 24568869 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)
• Copyright: Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://group.bmj.com/group/rights-licensing/permissions.

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Choroid Neoplasms (diagnostic imaging, radiotherapy, surgery)
• Exudates and Transudates
• Female
• Follow-Up Studies
• Glaucoma, Neovascular (etiology, physiopathology)
• Humans
• Intraocular Pressure (physiology)
• Male
• Melanoma (diagnostic imaging, radiotherapy, surgery)
• Middle Aged
• Ophthalmologic Surgical Procedures
• Prospective Studies
• Proton Therapy (adverse effects)
• Retinal Detachment (etiology, physiopathology)
• Sclera (surgery)
• Treatment Outcome
• Ultrasonography
• Visual Acuity (physiology)
• Young Adult