Photodynamic therapy for recurrent hyphema after proton beam radiotherapy of iris melanoma.
BACKGROUND
Recurrent hemorrhage with secondary glaucoma is a rare but serious complication following proton beam irradiation (PBI) of iris melanoma. We report a case in which photodynamic therapy (PDT) was successfully used to treat this complication.


METHODS
The history, clinical features and management of a patient with iris melanoma who was treated with PBI and later developed recurrent hyphema and increased intraocular pressure are presented. PDT was used to treat the abnormal intralesional blood vessels which caused the recurrent intraocular haemorrhage.


RESULTS
The intralesional blood vessels regressed following PDT. The patient did not experience any further episodes of hyphema or elevated intraocular pressure.


CONCLUSIONS
Our case demonstrates that the vascular abnormalities following irradiation of iris melanoma may respond favorably to PDT in selected cases. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case in which PDT was used to treat recurrent hyphema caused by abnormal intralesional blood vessels after proton beam irradiation of iris melanoma.
Trichopoulos
Nikolaos
N
St Paul's Eye Unit, Oncology Service, Royal Liverpool University Hospital, Liverpool, UK. ntrichope@hotmail.com
Damato
Bertil
B
D000328:Adult; D004396:Coloring Agents; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D006988:Hyphema / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D007208:Indocyanine Green; D007429:Intraocular Pressure; D015811:Iris Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D008545:Melanoma / Q000098:blood supply / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D010778:Photochemotherapy; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011166:Porphyrins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D012008:Recurrence; D000077362:Verteporfin
D004396:Coloring Agents; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; D011166:Porphyrins; D000077362:Verteporfin; D007208:Indocyanine Green