Intravitreal triamcinolone acetate for radiation maculopathy recalcitrant to high-dose intravitreal bevacizumab

To evaluate the effect of adjuvant intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide (ITA) for radiation maculopathy (RM) recalcitrant to high-dose bevacizumab in patients with choroidal melanoma after plaque radiotherapy.

Eight eyes of eight patients with RM secondary to plaque radiotherapy for choroidal melanoma, recalcitrant to high-dose bevacizumab (3.0 mg) were retrospectively evaluated. Intravitreal injections of ITA (4 mg/0.1 mL) were performed at 4-week to 16-week intervals as an adjunct to continued bevacizumab therapy. Change in central foveal thickness (CFT) as measured by optical coherence tomography and change in visual acuity (VA) were the main outcome measures.

At the time of diagnosis of choroidal melanoma, VA was 20/20 to 20/50 in 88% (n=7) and 20/60 to 20/200 in 12% (n=1). The mean radiation dose to the fovea was 81 Gy (median 75.2 Gy; range: 22.72-132.8 Gy). The mean onset to RM was 25 months after plaque therapy (median 25 months; range 12-44 months). At the time of initiation of ITA, VA was 20/20 to 20/50 in 38% (3/8), and 20/60 to 20/200 in 62% (5/8). After initiation of ITA, VA was stable or improved in 100% of patients (n=8) at 3 months, 88% at 6 months, 88% at 9 months and 75% at 12 months. Mean CFT was 417 µm at ITA initiation, 339 µm at 1 month, 355 µm at 6 months, 339 µm at 9 months and 359 µm at 1 year.

Intravitreal triamcinolone can be added to preserve vision and decrease macular oedema in patients with RM recalcitrant to high-dose anti-vascular endothelial growth factor agents.