Purpose: To evaluate the effect of photodynamic therapy (PDT) as adjuvant treatment, after brachytherapy, in posterior amelanotic choroidal melanomas.
Methods: Six patients with posterior amelanotic choroidal melanoma underwent brachytherapy treatment. Tumour response was assessed by fundus examination, fundus photography and A-B scan ultrasonography. The residual tumours were treated with adjuvant PDT performed with infusion of verteporfin intravenously at 6 mg/m2 body surface area. Five minutes after infusion, a 689 nm laser was applied with a light dose of 100 J/cm2 over an interval of 166 s.
Results: At a median follow-up after brachytherapy of 17.5 months (IQR 16.2-22.5, range 5-42 months), tumours showed a partial reduction of tumour thickness (22.5% as compared to baseline value) and persistent low internal reflectivity at A-B scan ultrasonography. Supplementary photodynamic treatment resulted in complete resolution of the lesion with marked decrease of elevation . Mean decrease in thickness after PDT was 49.9% with respect to previous brachytherapy treatment 22.5% (p = 0.007). The results was achieved within a median period of 4 months (range 2-4 months) after PDT, and there has been no recurrence after a median follow-up of 84.7 months ± 18.7 (range 59 to 107 months).
Conclusion: Combined treatment of brachytherapy and adjuvant PDT in amelanotic uveal melanoma seems to be favourable with regard to complete and rapid tumour regression.
Keywords: Ocular tumour; PDT; brachytherapy.; choroidal melanoma; photodynamic therapy.