Photodynamic Therapy for an iris metastasis from pulmonary adenocarcinoma

Uveal metastasis is the most common intraocular malignancy. Lung cancer is one of the most common malignancies that metastasize to uvea. Iris involvement is rarely reported. Here we report a case of iris metastasis from pulmonary adenocarcinoma that was treated with photodynamic therapy (PDT). A 65-year-old Chinese man was referred to our hospital for iris white neoplasm and blurred vision for 2 weeks in his right eye. His accepted pulmonary lobectomy, radiotherapy and chemotherapy for pulmonary adenocarcinoma 1year ago and liver metastases were found 2 months earlier. At presentation, anterior segment examination of the right eye showed a hypopigmented, vascularized papillary 3.8 *3.19mm neoplasm located on the temporal iris expanding to 9-clock anterior chamber angle. The patient refused to accept MRI, biopsy and treatment. One week later the tumor grew up to 5.5*7.4mm with diffuse mixed conjunctiva congestion and elevated IOP. A modified PDT was applied. Intravenous verteporfin (3mg/m2) was infused with a 1min bolus. PDT with 3 partly overlapped 5mm laser spots, 689nm (50J/cm²) and 166s were performed 4 minuets later without contact lens. The neo-genesis vessels were occluded with small patch bleeding on the edema tumor that was separated from the anterior chamber angle in the 3days follow-up. PDT may be a safe, noninvasive and psychologically well-accepted treatment for iris metastasis.