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Treatment of choroidal melanoma using photodynamic therapy
Irene A Barbazetto1, Thomas C Lee, Indira S Rollins
1E.S. Harkness Eye Institute, New York Presbyterian Hospital, Columbia University, New York, New York 10032, USA. ib206@columbia.edu
Purpose:
To InternetAdvance publication at ajo.com Feb 26, 2002. investigate the effect of photodynamic therapy using verteporfin on choroidal melanoma.
Design:
Interventional case series.
Method:
Four patients with choroidal melanoma who showed recurrence or no response after previous brachytherapy and transpupillary thermotherapy were treated with photodynamic therapy.
Results:
One tumor decreased in size and remained stable for 18 months. One tumor had no growth for 11 months. Two melanomas continued to grow, necessitating enucleation.
Conclusions:
Of the four eyes that had failed conventional therapies, two would have been salvaged (to date) with photodynamic therapy. However, additional studies are needed to determine if photodynamic therapy can play a role in the management of choroidal melanoma.