Malignant metastatic disease of the eye: management of an uncommon complication

Twenty-four patients with metastatic cancer of the choroid were seen in the Department of Therapeutic Radiology, Rush-Presbyterian--St. Luke's Medical Center, Chicago, between 1964 and 1975. One fourth of the patients had involvement in both eyes, for a total of 30 eyes involved with metastatic cancer. The most common site of the primary carcinoma was the breast. Most of the patients had inadequate vision, proptosis, pain, heaviness, and double vision. Retinal detachment was a common finding. All the patients received a palliative course of radiotherapy to the posterior chamber of the eye; between 2100--3000 rad in 7/10 fractions were given. Of the patients, 33% had complete recovery of symptoms, and 37% had only partial recovery; 30% showed no response to therapy. Survival period from the time of radiotherapy to death varied from one to 21 months, with a median of four months and a mean of 6.6 months. All patients responding to therapy showed marked improvement in their quality of life until death.