Radiotherapy for iris metastasis from esophageal carcinoma: A series of three cases

Description of three cases of metastatic esophageal carcinoma to the iris and focus on management strategies.

A 48-year-old man (Case 1) with previously treated stage IV esophageal carcinoma presented with blurred vision in the left eye (OS) for 3 weeks. Initial fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) was negative for malignant cells, so incisional biopsy was performed and confirmed metastatic carcinoma. A 53-year-old man (Case 2) with previously treated stage III esophageal cancer experienced 2 months of pain and 1 month of blurred vision OS. Documented tumor growth suggested esophageal carcinoma metastasis. A 65-year-old man (Case 3) with previously treated stage IV esophageal carcinoma developed hyphema in the right eye (OD), and FNAB confirmed metastatic carcinoma.

Case 1 was treated with external beam radiotherapy (EBRT), delivered over 16 days which resulted in complete tumor regression. Case 2 received stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) over 21 days leading to complete tumor regression. Case 3 was treated with plaque radiotherapy over 4 days, resulting in complete tumor regression.

In all three cases, radiotherapy was employed, and enucleation was avoided. Plaque radiotherapy achieved tumor control in a shorter period of time (4 days) compared to EBRT (16 days) or SBRT (21 days). Knowing the short life expectancy of these patients, plaque radiotherapy appears most favorable.