Mashayekhi, Arman

Purpose: To report a rare case of multifocal chorioretinitis subsequent to intravesical Bacillus Calmette-Guerin therapy for bladder cancer. Methods: Case report. Results: A 74-year-old man presented with ill-defined visual changes in his right eye, along with constitutional symptoms such as low-grade fever, chills with rigors, night sweats, headache, dry cough, memory problems, and unintentional weight loss. These symptoms occurred 11 months after receiving intravesical Bacillus Calmette-Guerin treatment for bladder cancer. His visual acuity in the right eye was 20/30. Examination of his right eye revealed multiple yellow white chorioretinal lesions, and optical coherence tomography imaging showed focal involvement of the choroid and overlying neurosensory retina. Blood-based testing using next-generation sequencing for detection of microbial cell free DNA (Karius test) was positive for Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex. The patient was treated with 12 months of triple therapy consisting of isoniazid, rifampin, and ethambutol. The chorioretinal lesions showed complete regression to flat scars, with no evidence of recurrence 15 months after discontinuation of systemic treatment. Conclusion: Despite being rare, the possibility of mycobacterial chorioretinitis should be considered in patients with new-onset visual symptoms after intravesical Bacillus Calmette-Guerin treatment for bladder cancer.

Vitreoretinal lymphoma (VRL) is a rare ocular pathology that is notorious for mimicking chronic uveitis, which is a seemingly benign condition in comparison. The most common form of VRL is the diffuse large B-cell type, and there has been a high mortality rate. This dismal prognosis can be improved significantly if the disease is diagnosed early, but until now there is no consensus on an appropriate diagnostic algorithm. We conducted a retrospective search of PubMed Central® and analyzed results from thirty-three studies that were published between 2011–2021. The chosen studies incorporated some popular testing tools for VRL, and our analyses focused on comparing the average sensitivity of five diagnostic methods. The methods included cytology including ancillary immunohistochemistry, Myeloid Differentiation Factor 88 (MyD88) mutation analysis, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for monoclonal rearrangements of immunoglobulin heavy chain (IgH) and T-cell Receptor (TCR) genes, flow cytometry, and IL10 and IL6 analysis. Across the varied diagnostic methods employed in thirty-three studies explored in this analysis, MyD88 mutation assay emerged as a strong contender given its sensitivity and low coefficient of variation. There is an imminent need for the introduction of newer assays that can further improve the sensitivity of identifying MyD88 mutation in cancer cells seen in the vitreous.

Purpose: To evaluate spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) features of vitreoretinal lymphoma (VRL). Methods: Review of records and SD-OCT images of vitreoretinal lymphoma evaluated at Ocular Oncology Service, Wills Eye Hospital between July 1, 2000, and April 1, 2019. Results: There were 55 eyes of 32 patients included. At presentation, SD-OCT features included vitreous opacities (n = 36, 65%), preretinal deposits (n = 7, 13%), intraretinal deposits (n = 8, 15%), subretinal deposits (n = 20, 36%), retinal pigment epithelium abnormalities (n = 35, 64%), and subretinal pigment epithelium deposits (n = 35, 64%). Of 36 eyes with observed tumor progression, comparison (initial visit vs. time of progression) revealed more intraretinal deposits (17% vs. 50%, P = 0.005) at progression. Of 15 eyes with tumor recurrence, comparison (initial visit vs. time of recurrence) revealed more intraretinal deposits (7% vs. 47%, P = 0.04) at recurrence. At last visit, 39 eyes demonstrated tumor regression. By comparison (initial presentation vs. regression), there were less frequent vitreous opacities (67% vs. 0%, P < 0.001), intraretinal deposits (15% vs. 0%, P = 0.03), subretinal deposits (36% vs. 0%, P < 0.001), and subretinal pigment epithelium deposits (69% vs. 21%, P < 0.001) at regression. Conclusion: Using SD-OCT in patients with vitreoretinal lymphoma, local tumor regression correlated with a reduction in vitreous opacities, intraretinal deposits, subretinal deposits, and subretinal pigment epithelium deposits. SD-OCT is useful in judging vitreoretinal lymphoma response to therapy.

AbstractImportanceThe impact of tumour thickness on radiation complications following plaque radiotherapy for uveal melanoma in the anti‐vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) era remains unknown.BackgroundTo evaluate treatment outcomes following plaque radiotherapy and prophylactic intravitreal bevacizumab for uveal melanoma based on initial tumour thickness.DesignThis was a retrospective, interventional case series.ParticipantsPatients with uveal melanoma were included in this study.MethodsA review of medical records was conducted of patients with uveal melanoma treated with plaque radiotherapy and prophylactic intravitreal bevacizumab from 7 July 2000 to 2 November 2018.Main outcomes measuresRadiation‐related outcomes of cystoid macular oedema (CME), radiation maculopathy, papillopathy, retinopathy, iris neovascularization (NVI) and neovascular glaucoma (NVG) were compared based on tumour thickness (small [<3.0 mm] vs medium [3.1‐8.0 mm] vs large [>8.0 mm]).ResultsOf 1131 eyes, 341 (30%) had small, 633 (56%) medium and 157 (14%) large melanoma. Comparison (small vs medium vs large) at 4 years following radiotherapy revealed large melanoma with greater Kaplan‐Meier estimated risk of CME (37% vs 37% vs 63%, P < .001), earlier onset of CME (33 vs 26 vs 19 months, P < .001) and greater development of NVI (<1% vs 2% vs 13%, P < .001) and NVG (1% vs 2% vs 12%, P < .001). Radiation‐induced maculopathy, papillopathy and retinopathy were not associated with tumour thickness.Conclusions and relevanceCompared with small and medium uveal melanoma, large uveal melanoma demonstrated greater 48‐month risk for CME, shorter time to CME onset and greater development of NVI and NVG following plaque radiotherapy and prophylactic intravitreal bevacizumab.

Purpose: To describe the outcome of ultra-low-dose (boom-boom) radiotherapy for choroidal lymphoma. Methods: Retrospective series of three consecutive patients with biopsy-proven choroidal lymphoma treated with ultra-low-dose radiotherapy. Results: The three patients (two male, one female) of mean age 70 years (range, 64–74 years) demonstrated presenting visual acuity in the affected eye between 20/40 and 20/50. The choroidal lymphoma was unilateral in all cases and presented with multifocal yellow patchy choroidal infiltration, located in all four quadrants and measuring mean 2.9 mm (range, 1.9–4.0 mm) in thickness by ultrasonography. Anterior epibulbar extension of 5 mm diameter was noted in one case. By enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography, the choroidal infiltration demonstrated classic undulating appearance (n = 3), with subretinal fluid (n = 2) and intraretinal edema (n = 1). There was no systemic lymphoma in any case. Biopsy was performed in all three cases and was diagnostic (n = 1) or suggestive (n = 2) of B-cell lymphoma. Management involved ultra-low-dose radiotherapy (4 Gy delivered in two fractions, “boom-boom”). On follow-up (mean = 14 months, range = 6–24 months), complete tumor regression on ophthalmoscopy was documented in all three cases, with enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography and ultrasonography demonstrating evidence of lymphoma resolution and visual acuity improvement to 20/25–20/40. There were no radiation complications. Conclusion: In this small case series, ultra-low-dose (boom-boom) radiotherapy was effective for choroidal lymphoma with favorable response and minimal side effects.

Purpose: To describe a case of ciliochoroidal melanoma with massive spontaneous hemorrhagic retinal and choroidal detachment that presented a diagnostic challenge because of poor fundus visualization and atypical imaging features. Methods: Case report. Results: A 71-year-old white man on apixaban for atrial fibrillation presented with sudden onset of pain and vision loss in the left eye. The patient was found to have total hemorrhagic retinal detachment and was referred for our opinion. On examination, visual acuity was 20/25 in the right eye and light perception in the left eye. Intraocular pressures were 10 mmHg in the right eye and 21 mmHg in the left eye. The unaffected right eye demonstrated only macular retinal pigment epithelial alterations. Evaluation of the left eye revealed dilated episcleral sentinel vessels superonasally, shallow anterior chamber, and total hemorrhagic retinal and choroidal detachment to the back of the crystalline lens. There was no view of the choroid. Transillumination demonstrated diffuse blockage of light from blood and no specific shadow. B-scan ultrasonography revealed total retinal and choroidal detachment with dense echoes of blood under the retina and in the suprachoroidal space with elevation of 12 mm and no definite mass or spontaneous vascular pulsations. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed diffuse high signals within the globe on T1-weighted images with no specific mass. On gadolinium enhancement, a localized enhancing area temporally of 12-mm thickness and a localized nonenhanced area nasally of 11-mm thickness was noted. Both areas showed low signal on T2-weighted images. Despite atypical features, suspicion for underlying ciliochoroidal melanoma and poor visual prognosis lead to enucleation. Histopathology confirmed an extensively necrotic, mushroom-shaped ciliochoroidal melanoma with total hemorrhagic retinal and choroidal detachment. Conclusion: Diagnosis of necrotic posterior uveal melanoma can be challenging, because these tumors can be camouflaged by overlying hemorrhagic retinal and choroidal detachment and can present with atypical features on ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging. Patients with spontaneous hemorrhagic retinal and choroidal detachment should be evaluated for possible underlying malignancy.

Purpose: To evaluate the outcome of photodynamic therapy (PDT) in the management of extrafoveolar choroidal osteoma. Methods: The authors performed a retrospective chart review of all patients with choroidal osteoma that did not involve the foveola and were treated with standard-fluence PDT. Results: Nine eyes with extrafoveolar choroidal osteoma were studied. Mean logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution best-corrected visual acuity at initial examination was 0.07 (Snellen ∼20/25). The osteoma was treated with 1 (8/9) or 2 (1/9) PDT sessions using 50 J/cm 2 . After a mean follow-up of 49 months, the treated area of osteoma demonstrated complete (4/9) or partial (5/9) regression, with a mean of 73% regression in the PDT-treated areas. Tumor growth in the region of PDT was noted in 3 cases (3/9) (one tumor toward the foveola and two tumors at the margin away from the foveola), but in no case did the tumor reach the foveola. Therefore, PDT controlled tumor growth in 8 of 9 cases with only 1 of 9 cases showing growth through the PDT scar into foveola. Mean logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution visual acuity at last follow-up was 0.04 (Snellen ∼20/20) ( P = 0.59). Conclusion: Photodynamic therapy is an effective modality for the management of extrafoveolar choroidal osteoma, minimizing tumor growth toward the foveola and preserving visual acuity.