Treatment of choroidal melanoma using photodynamic therapy

PURPOSE: To investigate the effect of photodynamic therapy using verteporfin on choroidal melanoma. DESIGN: Interventional case series. METHODS: 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 I I months. Two melanomas continued to grow, necessitating enucleation. CONCLUSION: 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. (C) 2003 by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.