Successful conservative treatment of massive choroidal relapse in 2 retinoblastoma patients monitored by ultrasound biomicroscopy and/or spectral domain optic coherence tomography.

PURPOSE

To report the occurrence and management of secondary choroidal infiltration in two retinoblastoma (rb) patients.

METHODS

Fundus examination and imaging with spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT), B-scan ultrasonography (B-scan), and ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM).

RESULTS

Case 1: A 19-month-old girl with multifocal unilateral group B rb pretreated with intravenous chemotherapy (IVC) was referred for further management. At 3.5 years of age, routine 3-Tesla magnetic resonance imaging (3T-MRI) revealed an asymptomatic pinealoblastoma that underwent resection and adjuvant intensive IVC. Concomitant ophthalmic follow-up revealed a recurrence 8.3 × 2.8 mm at the posterior pole nasally to the optic disc on B-scan, localized within the choroid on SD-OCT and 3T-MRI. With high dose IVC ongoing, total regression of the choroidal mass was confirmed on SD-OCT already after 3 weeks. At 6-month follow-up, choroidal and pineal tumors were in complete remission. Sadly, the child died of intravascular disseminated coagulation-like disease after the 5th IVC. Case 2: A heavily pretreated 20-month-old girl with bilateral rb was referred for persistent vitreous seeding in her remaining eye (OD). Three months after intravitreal chemotherapy and chemothermotherapy, a hemorrhagic mass was observed inferior to the primary tumor. Two weeks later, an underlying peripheral choroidal mass 16 × 6 mm was documented by UBM and confirmed by 3T-MRI. Complete resolution was achieved 3 weeks after combined intra-arterial chemotherapy (IAC) of melphalan-topotecan. No recurrence or metastasis was observed at 34-month follow-up.

CONCLUSION

Isolated massive choroidal invasion can be treated conservatively with IVC or IAC in selected cases. SD-OCT, UBM, and B-scan ultrasonography are instrumental in the detection and follow-up of choroidal lesions.