Treatment of choroidal melanoma using photodynamic therapy.

Overview

PURPOSE: To InternetAdvance publication at ajo.com Feb 26, 2002. investigate the effect of photodynamic therapy using verteporfin on choroidal melanoma. DESIGN: Interventional case series. METHOD: Four patients with choroidal melanoma who showed recurrence or no response after previous brachytherapy and transpupillary thermotherapy were treated with photodynamic therapy. RESULTS: One tumor decreased in size and remained stable for 18 months. One tumor had no growth for 11 months. Two melanomas continued to grow, necessitating enucleation. CONCLUSIONS: Of the four eyes that had failed conventional therapies, two would have been salvaged (to date) with photodynamic therapy. However, additional studies are needed to determine if photodynamic therapy can play a role in the management of choroidal melanoma.