Photodynamic therapy (PDT) as adjuvant treatment to brachytherapy for amelanotic choroidal melanoma

To evaluate the effect of photodynamic therapy (PDT) as adjuvant treatment, after brachytherapy, in posterior amelanotic choroidal melanomas.

Six patients with posterior amelanotic choroidal melanoma underwent brachytherapy treatment. Tumour response was assessed by fundus examination, fundus photography and A-B scan ultrasonography. The residual tumours were treated with adjuvant PDT performed with infusion of verteporfin intravenously at 6 mg/m² body surface area. Five minutes after infusion, a 689 nm laser was applied with a light dose of 100 J/cm² over an interval of 166 s.

At a median follow-up after brachytherapy of 17.5 months (IQR 16.2-22.5, range 5-42 months), tumours showed a partial reduction of tumour thickness (22.5% as compared to baseline value) and persistent low internal reflectivity at A-B scan ultrasonography. Supplementary photodynamic treatment resulted in complete resolution of the lesion with marked decrease of elevation . Mean decrease in thickness after PDT was 49.9% with respect to previous brachytherapy treatment 22.5% (p = 0.007). The results was achieved within a median period of 4 months (range 2-4 months) after PDT, and there has been no recurrence after a median follow-up of 84.7 months ± 18.7 (range 59 to 107 months).

Combined treatment of brachytherapy and adjuvant PDT in amelanotic uveal melanoma seems to be favourable with regard to complete and rapid tumour regression.