1Barbazetto I., 2Lee T., 2Abramson D., 1Chang S.

1New York Presbyterian Hospital, Columbia Presbyterian Hospital, New York, USA; 2New York Presbyterian Hospital, Weill Cornell Medical Center, New York, USA

Background: Plaque therapy, radiation therapy, TTT, photocoagulation and surgery are used to treat choroidal melanoma. However some cases show no response or even regrowth after treatment. The aim of this study is to evaluate the potential benefit of Photodynamic therapy (PDT) for these tumors.
Methods: In a pilot study three patients with choroidal melanoma involving the posterior pole, who showed no response or regrowth after previous plaque therapy and TTT were treated with photodynamic therapy. Treatments were performed using a diode laser at 692 nm using 6 mg/m2 BSA Verteporfin (Visudyne) as a photosensitizer. One PDT treatment was applied initially. Patients were controlled over a period of 3 to 10 months with visual acuity measurements and dilated ophthalmoscopy. Ultrasound-, ICG- and fluorescein angiographic images were evaluated pre and post therapy.
Results: Two patients showed a slow reduction in tumor size or arrested tumor growth. One patient presented with a recurrence after 4 months.
Conclusion: Photodynamic therapy may offer a minimally invasive and efficient approach in the treatment of choroidal melanoma. Future studies are needed to validate these findings and to evaluate the potential benefit of photodynamic therapy in the treatment of malignant tumors.

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