A case of presumed choroidal metastasis from carcinoid tumor treated by photodynamic therapy with verteporfin

Setsuko Kawakami, Yoshihiro Wakabayashi, Hiroshi Goto

Department of Ophthalmology, Tokyo Medical University, Tokyo, Japan

Abstract: We report a case of metastatic choroidal carcinoid tumor with favorable outcome after photodynamic therapy. A 75-year-old woman was presumptively diagnosed with bilateral choroidal metastases from carcinoid tumor. Although the tumor in the right eye showed a tendency toward rapid expansion and required aggressive treatment to preserve vision, the size was still small and we hesitated to use external-beam radiotherapy because of the risk of radiation retinopathy. Consequently, photodynamic therapy was performed on the right eye, resulting in drastic reduction of the size and height of the choroidal tumor. Good visual acuity was maintained after photodynamic therapy. Photodynamic therapy may be an effective treatment for choroidal metastasis from carcinoid tumor.

Keywords: choroid, choroidal metastases, photodynamic therapy, carcinoid tumor