Cotton-wool spots associated with pancreatic carcinoma.
BACKGROUND
Malignant tumors of different organs may cause changes in the eye.


METHODS
A 62-year-old woman and a 47-year-old man who both had a metastasizing carcinoma of the pancreas suffered from visual disturbances.


RESULTS
The 62-year-old woman experienced cloudy vision in her left eye. The 47-year-old man noticed a left visual deterioration. Both patients exhibited cotton-wool spots in both eyes. In addition, the man revealed a metastasis of the choroid in the right eye. The woman was treated with Gemcitabine (1999), and the man with 5 Fluo-Uracil/Leukovorin (1997). The cotton-wool spots were reduced in size in the woman after treatment with Gemcitabine. The patients had no diabetes mellitus and no arterial hypertension. After termination of treatment, their general condition deteriorated and they died within a few weeks.


CONCLUSIONS
Cotton-wool spots are unusual findings in the retina of a metastasizing carcinoma, suggesting the presence of a retinal ischemia. Therefore, early screening of patients with metastasizing pancreas carcinoma for retinal abnormalities may be important.
Schmidt
D
D
Universitaets-Augenklinik, Killianstr. 5, D-79106 Freiburg, Germany. schmidtd@aug.ukl.uni-freiburg.de
Ness
T
T
Geissler
M
M
D000310:Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000556:secondary; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000556:secondary; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005134:Eye Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000556:secondary; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000556:secondary; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000556:secondary; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D000093542:Gemcitabine
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D003841:Deoxycytidine; D000093542:Gemcitabine