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Updated: Apr 23, 2026
Implantation and Evaluation of Melanoma in the Murine Choroid via Optical Coherence Tomography
Published on: December 2, 2022
Primary transpupillary thermotherapy for choroidal indeterminate melanocytic lesions
Sébastien Turcotte1, Dan Bergeron1, Alain P Rousseau1
1Centre Universitaire d'Ophtalmologie, CHU de Québec, Hôpital du Saint-Sacrement, Quebec City; Département d'Ophtalmologie, Faculté de Médecine, Université Laval, Quebec City.
Objective:
This study aimed to assess the ocular and metastatic outcomes of patients with choroidal indeterminate melanocytic lesions treated by primary transpupillary thermotherapy (TTT).
Design:
Retrospective case series.
Participants:
Eight patients presenting choroidal indeterminate melanocytic lesions treated by primary TTT.
Methods:
A retrospective chart review was conducted for patients with a newly diagnosed choroidal indeterminate melanocytic lesion treated by at least 3 TTT sessions from 2002 to 2011. Best-corrected visual acuity and lesion dimensions were measured at baseline and during follow-up. Complications were recorded including lesion growth, metastasis, melanoma-related mortality, and treatment-related complications.
Results:
Mean initial thickness was 2.0 ± 0.8 mm. Patients had an average of 3.0 ± 0.9 risk factors for lesion growing. Three patients (38%) had lesion growth. Two patients (25%) had severe visual loss (>1.0 logMAR) directly related to TTT treatment. There were no fatalities due to metastasis.
Conclusions:
Despite careful patient selection and systematic treatment with at least 3 TTT sessions, the use of primary TTT to treat patients with choroidal indeterminate melanocytic lesions with ≥ 1 risk factor for lesion growth yielded poor local lesion control and the possibility for severe ocular complications.
