Photodynamic Therapy for Choroidal Metastasis in 8 Cases

Purpose To determine the efficacy of photodynamic therapy (PDT) in the treatment of choroidal metastasis. Design Retrospective, interventional case series. Participants Nine tumors in 8 eyes of 8 patients. Intervention Photodynamic therapy using verteporfin at a dose of 6 mg/m2 body surface area and 689 nm diode laser at an intensity of 600 mW/cm2 for 83 seconds (50 J/cm2 ). Main Outcome Measures Tumor control and best-corrected visual acuity. Results Nine choroidal metastases in 8 eyes were treated with 1 (8 tumors) or 2 (1 tumor) sessions of PDT. The mean tumor basal diameter was 7 mm (median, 7 mm [range, 2–13 mm]), and mean tumor thickness was 2.9 mm (median, 2.9 mm [range, 1.6–4 mm]). All 9 tumors were associated with shallow subretinal fluid. After PDT, complete control with resolution of subretinal fluid was achieved in 7 tumors (78%), with mean tumor thickness reduction of 39% (median, 43% [range, 6%–61%]). Two tumors failed to respond to PDT, both requiring plaque radiotherapy. Improvement or stabilization of vision was achieved in 7 eyes. Photodynamic therapy–related complications included intraretinal hemorrhage in 1 eye. Conclusions Photodynamic therapy can be an effective alternative for the treatment of choroidal metastasis. Financial Disclosure(s) The author(s) have no proprietary or commercial interest in any materials discussed in this article.