title: Retinopathy associated with adjuvant high-dose interferon-α2b in a patient with resected melanoma: a case report and review of the literature.
abstract: Interferon is the only accepted adjuvant treatment for patients with melanoma; hence, oncologists should be aware of the possibility of retinal abnormalities resulting from its use. Interferon-associated retinopathy in patients being treated for resected melanoma is a rare phenomenon with a proposed immunological basis. Patients are usually asymptomatic or have mild visual impairments, with cotton wool infarcts and hemorrhages. These symptoms and signs usually resolve with the discontinuation of interferon, but in a few severe presentations the visual impairments and retinal changes can be irreversible.
authors.affiliation: NCIC Clinical Trials Group, Cancer Research Institute, Queen's University, 10 Stuart Street, Kingston, Ontario K7L 3N6, Canada. jmonzon@ctg.queensu.ca
authors.forename: Jose G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Monzon
authors.forename: Nazik
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hammad
authors.forename: Samuel D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Stevens
authors.forename: Janet
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dancey
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008545:Melanoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery; D059545:Paraneoplastic Syndromes, Ocular / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D016898:Interferon-alpha