[Natural development over 4 years of a macular small choroidal melanoma in a single-eyed patient].
We report the case of a single-eyed patient with a small (2.2 mm thick with largest tumor diameter 7.6 mm) choroidal melanoma involving the entire macular surface with few functional signs. Visual acuity was 20/63. The patient was informed of the side effects and so was followed regularly at the oncology unit over 4 years. During this period, the tumor volume increased fourfold (the thickness reached 4.3 mm and the LTD 10.4 mm), with visual acuity decreasing to 20/250: proton beam therapy was therefore performed. The patient showed no metastasis more than 2 years after the treatment. This unusual case raises the question of small choroidal melanoma management, especially if the patient is single-eyed, in good general health, middle-aged and if the tumor is retrofoveal with just a few functional signs: when, why and who should be treated?
Clinique Ophtalmologique Universitaire, Centre Hospitalier de la Croix Rousse, Lyon.
M
M
Fauquembergue
L
L
Kodjikian
P
P
Chauvel
F
F
Bacin
D000368:Aged; D001766:Blindness; D002830:Choroid Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000532:radiotherapy; D018450:Disease Progression; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000473:pathology* / Q000532:radiotherapy; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D013997:Time Factors; D016312:Treatment Refusal; D014792:Visual Acuity