Laser therapy in the management of choroidal breast tumor metastases.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the potential of laser photocoagulation as a method of treating small metastatic lesions of breast carcinoma in the choroid.


METHODS
The 10 eyes of 7 patients were treated by Krypton red or argon green laser applications for small choroidal breast carcinoma metastasis with serous detachment of the retina. Before treatment 5 eyes had visual acuity of finger counting and 5 eyes had visual acuity of 6/15 or better. The treatment was repeated once in all eyes, except 1 eye in which it was repeated 3 times.


RESULTS
In all eyes, one to two weeks after the treatment the tumor shrunk, the subretinal serous detachment absorbed, the retina flattened, and the visual acuity improved to 6/6-6/21. No reduction in vision was seen after the second treatment until the end of the follow-up period. In 1 eye, new tumors located elsewhere were again twice successfully treated. Patients reported a significant improvement of their quality of vision, as judged subjectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Laser treatment is a feasible, easy, rapid, and effective therapy for small choroidal breast carcinoma.
Levinger
S
S
Department of Ophthalmology, Hadassah University Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel.
Merin
S
S
Seigal
R
R
Pe'er
J
J
D000328:Adult; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D002830:Choroid Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D006801:Humans; D017075:Laser Coagulation; D008875:Middle Aged; D012086:Reoperation; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity