Photodynamic Therapy with Verteporfin for Choroidal Metastasis Refractory to Radiotherapy
Raymond Zhou1, David Reichstein2
1Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.
Case Reports in Oncology
|December 12, 2019
Summary
Photodynamic therapy (PDT) with Verteporfin successfully treated choroidal metastases in a breast cancer patient refractory to radiotherapy. This marks the first documented use of PDT for this specific condition.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Oncology
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Metastatic breast cancer can spread to the choroid, causing vision-threatening ocular complications.
- Choroidal metastases are often treated with radiotherapy, but resistance can occur.
Observation:
- A 54-year-old female with metastatic breast cancer developed choroidal metastases.
- Initial treatment with external beam radiotherapy showed partial response but was followed by disease progression.
Findings:
- Full fluence Photodynamic therapy (PDT) using Verteporfin was administered for refractory choroidal metastases.
- PDT resulted in significant regression of the ocular lesions.
Implications:
- This case report is the first to document successful PDT for choroidal metastasis originating from breast cancer that was resistant to radiotherapy.
- Photodynamic therapy represents a potential therapeutic option for managing refractory choroidal metastases in breast cancer patients.
