Intravitreal Bevacizumab (Avastin) as an Adjuvant Therapy for Choroidal Carcinoid Metastasis

To report a case of choroidal carcinoid metastasis with neovascularization of the optic disc and macular edema that was treated with three sessions of intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) as an adjuvant therapy with photodynamic therapy (PDT).

A 16-year-old patient with a diagnosis of lung carcinoid tumor presented to an ophthalmology clinic with a complaint of decreased vision in his right eye. Fundus examination revealed choroidal carcinoid metastasis in addition to neovascularization of the optic disc. Macular optical coherence tomography revealed cystoid macular edema and subretinal fluid. The patient was treated with PDT in addition to three sessions of intravitreal anti-VEGF injections.

Following the treatment, the new vessels regressed, and visual acuity improved. Furthermore, central retinal thickness reduced significantly. The tumor size reduced significantly over a follow-up period of 6 weeks.

Choroidal carcinoid metastasis may be complicated by neovascularization of optic disc, which responds favorably to intravitreal injections of bevacizumab.