title: The effect of intravitreal bevacizumab and transpupillary thermotherapy on choroidal metastases and literature review.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To represent the effects of transpupillary thermotherapy (TTT) and intravitreal bevacizumab on choroidal metastases and review the literature.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective, interventional, noncomparative case series.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective, interventional, noncomparative case series of five eyes in three patients with choroidal metastases was conducted. Fundus findings of choroidal metastases were divided into two types: Solitary or diffuse type. The size of the tumor was termed small (<10 mm diameter), medium (10-15 mm diameter) or large (>15 mm diameter). All eyes received one session of TTT followed by 3 weekly intravitreal bevacizumab injections as an adjuvant therapy. The parameters of treatment for TTT were 1.2-3 mm spot size, 150-300 mW, 60 s with the whole lesion covered confluently. The changes in preoperative and postoperative best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) were recorded. Serial color fundus photography and optical coherent tomography were performed to measure the treatment efficacy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All eight choroidal metastases were solitary type. The size of six tumors was small, the size of one tumor was medium, and the size of one tumor was large. All five eyes of the three patients had improvement of BCVA after treatment. Fundus photos revealed tumor shrinkage and the mean shrinkage percentage was 61.27 ± 21.71%. Optical coherence tomography revealed complete resolution of serous retinal detachment. There was no recurrence after 6 months follow-up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  TTT combined with intravitreal bevacizumab injections brought about beneficial effects in reducing tumor size and improving vision in all five eyes of the three patients. Despite the retrospective nature of our study, the absence of control group and the size limitation that, of course, limit the statistical power, TTT combined with intravitreal bevacizumab seems to be efficient in providing another cost-reducing and time-saving treatment option for patients with choroidal metastases. The antineoplastic properties of bevacizumab make it a viable adjunctive therapy. Studies with more cases and a longer follow-up period are warranted.
authors: Department of Ophthalmology, China Medical University Hospital; Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung; Department of Ophthalmology, Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua, Taiwan.
authors: Chun-Ju
authors: CJ
authors: Lin
authors: Yi-Yu
authors: YY
authors: Tsai
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000068258:Bevacizumab / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002829:Choroid / Q000473:pathology; D002830:Choroid Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000556:secondary / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006979:Hyperthermia, Induced / Q000379:methods*; D058449:Intravitreal Injections; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D011680:Pupil; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D000068258:Bevacizumab