Management of Irish patients with intraocular melanoma referred to Liverpool, England

Iatrogenic Ocular Surface Diseases Occurring during and/or after Different Treatments for Ocular Tumours

Simple Summary

The ocular surface represents a finely regulated system that allows the protection of the eye. It can be affected by therapies used for the treatment of various intraocular tumours, particularly conjunctival cancers and uveal melanoma. In these conditions, treatments are chosen according to the characteristics of the lesion, and include a combination of selective surgery, anticancer eye drops, and/or radiotherapy delivered through different mechanisms. Possible side effects affecting the ocular surface range from transient dry eye or keratitis up to more severe complications such as corneal melting and perforation. These complications deserve careful evaluation for the risk of permanent sight-threatening sequelae. Physicians involved in the management of patients affected by ocular tumours should be aware of this risk in order to reach an early diagnosis and promptly set up an adequate treatment. The present review summarizes acute and chronic complications affecting the ocular surface following different therapies for the treatment of conjunctival cancers and uveal melanoma, and also reports clinical cases of representative patients who experienced these complications.

Abstract

The ocular surface represents a finely regulated system that allows the protection of the eye. It is particularly susceptible to different treatments for intraocular tumours, such as uveal melanoma and conjunctival cancers. Traditionally, the management of ocular tumours depends on the characteristics of the lesion, and is based on a combination of selective surgery, topical chemotherapy, and/or radiotherapy delivered through different mechanisms (e.g., charged-particle radiotherapy or brachytherapy). Possible complications involving the ocular surface range from transient dry eye disease or keratitis up to corneal melting and perforation, which in any case deserve careful evaluation for the risk of permanent sigh-threatening complications. Clinicians involved in the management of these patients must be aware of this risk, in order to reach an early diagnosis and promptly set up an adequate treatment. The present review of the literature will summarize acute and chronic complications affecting the ocular surface following different therapies for the treatment of ocular tumours.

Referral patterns of intraocular tumour patients to a dedicated Canadian ocular oncology department

OBJECTIVE

Intraocular tumours are uncommon lesions requiring comprehensive management at tertiary referral centers. This study analyzes referral patterns of intraocular tumours, accuracy of referral diagnosis, and modes of treatment provided for patients at a dedicated Canadian Ocular Oncology Department.

DESIGN

Retrospective chart review.

PARTICIPANTS

A total of 1050 new patient referrals of intraocular tumours to the department of Ocular Oncology at Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH) between 2005 and 2008 inclusive.

METHODS

Data collected for each patient included demographics, referral diagnosis, final diagnosis, and treatment provided or recommended. Home address postal codes were used to determine patients' geographical distance to PMH.

RESULTS

Most patients originated from Ontario (81.5%) followed by Alberta (7.1%) with a median age of referral at 61 years old. The most common referral diagnoses were unknown diagnosis (47.6%), uveal melanoma (26.9%), and nevus (18.9%). After evaluation at PMH, uveal nevus was the most common final diagnosis (39.7%) followed by melanoma (39.2%). The referring physicians correctly diagnosed 48.5% of total melanomas. The proportion of melanoma diagnosis relative to total referrals by province ranged from 29.6% for Ontario to 100% for Quebec. Distance from the patient's address to PMH was <200 kilometres in 64.5% of patients and >1000 kilometres in 21.6% of patients.

CONCLUSIONS

The limited accuracy of referral diagnoses and increased proportion of melanoma referrals from greater distances demonstrates the need for increased knowledge in ocular oncology, improvement of eye cancer care facilities at the referral base, and/or the implementation of tele-ophthalmology.

The effectiveness and safety of proton radiation therapy for indications of the eye : a systematic review

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

: Proton radiation has been used for the treatment of uveal melanoma since 1975, but few studies have been conducted to assess its efficacy and safety. This paper aims to systematically review the effects and side effects of proton therapy for any indication of the eye.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

: A range of databases were searched from inception to 2007. All studies that included at least ten patients and that assessed the efficacy or safety of proton therapy for any indication of the eye were included.

RESULTS

: The search generated 2,385 references, of which 37 met the inclusion criteria. Five controlled trials, two comparative studies and 30 case series were found, most often reporting on uveal melanoma, choroidal melanoma and age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Methodological quality of these studies was poor. Studies were characterized by large differences in radiation techniques applied within the studies, and by variation in patient characteristics within and between studies. Results for uveal melanoma and choroidal melanoma suggest favorable survival, with, however, significant rates of side effects. Results for choroidal hemangioma and AMD did not reveal beneficial effects from proton radiation.

CONCLUSION

: There is limited evidence on the effectiveness and safety of proton radiation due to the lack of well-designed and well-reported studies. There is a need to lift evidence on proton therapy to a higher level by performing dose-finding randomized controlled trials (RCTs), comparative studies of proton radiation versus standard given alternatives and prospective case studies enrolling only patients treated with up-to-date techniques, allowing extrapolation of results to similar patient groups.