Diffuse metastatic melanoma to the retina: a clinicopathologic report

Clinical features of retinal metastases: new cases integrated in a systematic review of the literature

PURPOSE

To report a cohort of patients diagnosed with retinal metastasis (RM) and to integrate these new cases in a systematic review of the literature, analyzing the clinical features and prognosis factors of patients with RM.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective multicenter study including patients with RM. We also performed a full literature review of all published cases with a diagnosis of RM.

RESULTS

A total of 6 new cases were described on multimodal imaging. By combining the data from the literature and from our patients, we report the characteristics of a total of 69 patients. The most frequent primary tumor sites were cutaneous melanoma (36%), lung (23%), gastro-intestinal tract (17%) and breast (12%). Multimodal imaging highlighted specific characteristics of RM. Fluorescein and indocyanine green angiography revealed early hypofluorescence followed by progressive filling of intrinsic dilated vessels. Optical coherence tomography demonstrated a hyperreflective intraretinal mass in all cases with or without subretinal fluid, hyperreflective intraretinal dots or intraretinal fluid. Ultrasonography revealed a medium-high reflective dome-shaped tumor. Fifty-nine percent of the patients died during the follow-up with a mean survival time of 8.8±8.7 months.

CONCLUSION

We described here the clinical spectrum of RM and highlighted specific features of the disease.

Immunotherapy-Resistant Vitreoretinal Metastatic Melanoma

Purpose

To describe 2 cases of vitreoretinal metastases in patients treated with immunotherapy for metastatic melanoma.

Methods

Retrospective case series.

Results

We pre-sent 2 patients with metastatic melanoma treated with systemic immunotherapy with subsequent development of ocular vitreoretinal metastasis. The first patient was a male with metastatic melanoma from a site of unknown origin that was in complete remission following a course of ipilimumab and nivolumab therapy. He presented to an outside provider for evaluation of vitritis and a pigmented lesion in the right eye that was presumed secondary to toxoplasmosis. After failing initial management with oral antibiotics, he underwent diagnostic pars plana vitrectomy, and vitreous biopsy was consistent with metastatic melanoma to the vitreous. He was additionally found to have an elevated pigmented retinal mass consistent with a retinal metastasis from melanoma that initially failed treatment with plaque brachytherapy and ultimately required enucleation. The second case was a monocular male with metastatic melanoma from cutaneous melanoma with decreased vision 3 months after the initiation of nivolumab therapy. He presented with dense vitreous debris in his seeing eye and was thought to have nivolumab-associated inflammation. He was initially treated with difluprednate with improved vision and decrease in vitreous debris, but developed dense pigment deposition in the affected eye later in the treatment course. Diagnostic pars plana vitrectomy was performed, and vitreous biopsy was positive for malignant melanoma cells. His systemic disease was in remission at the time of diagnosis of ocular metastasis. External beam radiation was recommended given his monocular status.

Conclusion

Vitreoretinal metastasis can develop despite favorable systemic response to immunotherapy in patients with metastatic cutaneous melanoma. Lack of ocular penetration and extension of life span with immunotherapeutic agents may be the underlying mechanism for vitreoretinal metastasis.

A CASE OF RETINAL METASTASIS OF LARYNGEAL SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMA WITH HISTOPATHOLOGIC CONFIRMATION BY VITRECTOMY-ASSISTED EN BLOCK EXTRACTION

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE

To present a case report of retinal metastasis of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma that was diagnosed by a histopathologic finding from the surgically extracted tumor tissue.

METHODS

A 66-year-old man, who was suffered from the treatment-resistant laryngeal carcinoma, was referred to our department because of visual field defect in his right eye. A fundus examination revealed a parafoveal white retinal lesion, which rapidly expanded to the central fovea and decreased the visual acuity. A tissue extraction by 27G pars plana vitrectomy was performed to confirm the diagnosis.

RESULTS

The abnormal retinal tissue was extracted en block through 10-mm sclerocorneal tunnel during pars plana vitrectomy. The histopathologic findings revealed that the retinal lesion was retinal metastasis of laryngeal carcinoma.

CONCLUSION

We must keep in mind that retinal metastasis can be one of the differential diagnoses for white retinal lesions of unknown cause.

Differentiation between Melanin-Laden Macrophages and Melanoma Cells in Vitreous Aspirates

OBJECTIVE

The differential diagnosis between retinal detachment and melanoma metastatic to the vitreous can be challenging, both clinically and cytologically. We demonstrate the diagnostic features and pitfalls of the cytological assessment.

STUDY DESIGN

A case of a metastatic melanoma to the vitreous is compared to a case of retinal detachment initially suspected as melanoma metastasis. Case 1 was a 54-year-old patient with a vague history of pigmented lesions 20 years previously and a current presentation of a visual defect. Case 2 was a 68-year-old patient with a history of melanoma and a presentation of floaters and flashing lights.

RESULTS

The vitreous fluid of case 1 contained atypical, pigment-laden cells positive for HMB-45 and assessed as melanoma. On enucleation, a melanoma metastatic to the vitreous was diagnosed. The vitreous fluid of case 2 revealed atypical cells containing pigment granules. The cells were negative for melanocytic markers, while the granules stained positive for melanin. Macrophage marker CD163 was positive in all cells. The interpretation was one of macrophages reactive to the retinal detachment.

CONCLUSION

Melanin-laden macrophages can mimic melanoma cells. This needs to be considered in the differential diagnosis. Additional stains can help the distinction.