Bilateral Pterygium in a Paediatric Cancer Patient Taking Vemurafenib: A Case Report

Anticancer drugs with reactive oxygen species-inducing mechanisms, such as vemurafenib, have been shown to be effective against various types of cancer. However, the adverse effects of increased oxidative stress have the potential to damage not only cancer cells, but also normal cells, potentially leading to ocular diseases such as pterygium and cataract.

A 9-year-old patient presented with bilateral nasal pterygia and early bilateral cortical cataracts, which are uncommon for his age group. The patient has a background of v-raf murine sarcoma viral oncogene homologue B1 (BRAF) V600E-positive pilocytic astrocytoma with anaplastic features, diagnosed at age 2.5 years old. Vemurafenib was commenced at the time of diagnosis.

We suspect that these ophthalmic findings are associated with his prolonged treatment with vemurafenib which may be of pathophysiological significance.