A324 World Ophthalmology Congress 2008
Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology 2008; 36 (Suppl 1): A324–A340
Journal Compilation © Blackwell Publishing Asia
POSTERS
Ocular Tumors, Pathology
tor. Nine months following therapy the vision was stable and one
focus of the tumour had regressed in the affected eye. The
favourable response highlights the significant impact of this new
therapy, as an alternative to external beam radiotherapy in patients
with ocular metastasis from breast cancer.
Poster No.: OT-D1-432
Panel No.: 432
An Unusual Presentation of Merkel Cell Carcinoma
of the Eyelid
First Author: Habiba Saedon
Purpose: Merkel cell carcinoma is a rare primary neuroendocrine
tumour occurring on any part of the body which mainly affects
elderly Caucasians. Its importance lies in the potentially aggressive
nature of the neoplasm, and subsequent need for prompt diagnosis
and treatment. We describe an unusual presentation of this tumour.
Method: This is a case report of a 68 year old Caucasian lady who
presented with a 6 week history of a rapidly growing lesion on the
left lower eyelid. Examination showed a 4 cm diameter exophytic,
ovoid skin lesion of the left lower lid. She underwent local excision
with intraoperative frozen-section monitoring of the resection
margins. Histology findings were consistent with Merkel cell car-
cinoma. Further wide local excision was undertaken and she under-
went adjuvant chemotherapy. The clinical follow-up at 8 months
revealed an undisturbed eye lid function without any signs of recur-
rence. Results: Merkel cell carcinoma was first described in 1972
by Toker. The tumour usually presents as a firm, non-tender, viola-
ceous, or purple nodule but, as in this case, may present in a dif-
ferent guise. A high index of suspicion is therefore recommended
in a rapidly growing lesion. There is no consensus on the optimal
treatment, but most guidelines include wide local excision of the
primary tumour alone or with radiation therapy. There is still con-
troversy surrounding the use of chemotherapy. Sentinel lymph
node biopsy can be helpful in staging and prognosis, but its benefit
in survival has not been proven. In the largest study of 110 patients,
the overall 5-year disease-specific survival rate was 62%. Conclu-
sion: Merkel cell carcinoma is an important diagnosis to consider
when presented with a lid lesion. Prompt investigation, diagnosis
and treatment are of utmost importance to ensure the best chance
of survival.
Poster No.: OT-D1-433
Panel No.: 433
Direct Retinal Toxicity as a Cause of Vision Loss after
Administration of Fludarabine
First Author: Xiaoyan Ding
Co-Author(s): Rachel Bishop, Charles Heller, Gabor Illei,
Rafael Caruso, Steven Pavletic, Chi-Chao Chan
Purpose: Fludarabine phosphate is a nucleoside analogue that has
been used primarily to treat hematologic malignancies. Fludarabine
toxicity to the central nervous system (CNS) has been described
with moderate frequency at high doses and rarely at standard (low)
June 28, 2008 (Saturday)
Poster No.: OT-D1-430
Panel No.: 430
Visual Acuity in 3422 Consecutive Eyes with Choroidal Nevus
First Author: Carol Shields
Co-Author(s): Minoru Furuta, Arman Mashayekhi,
Jonathan Zahler, Edwina Berman, Daniel Hoberman, Diep Dinh,
Jerry A Shields
Purpose: To evaluate visual acuity in eyes with choroidal nevus.
Design: Noncomparative case series. Participants: 3422 consecu-
tive eyes. Method: Retrospective chart review with evaluation of
visual acuity at the time of presentation and at final examination.
Main outcome measure: LogMAR visual acuity. Results: The mean
patient age at initial examination was 60 years (median 62 years,
range 1 to 97 years). At initial examination, mean LogMAR visual
acuity was 0 (20/20) for eyes with extrafoveal choroidal nevus and
0.10 (20/25) for eyes with subfoveal choroidal nevus. At mean fol-
lowup of 3.3 years (up to 36.2 years) months, final mean LogMAR
visual acuity was 10 (20/25) for eyes with extrafoveal choroidal
nevus and 0.18 (20/30) for eyes with subfoveal nevus. Using Kaplan
Meier estimates, vision loss of 3 or more lines at 2, 5, 10, and 15
years occurred in <1%, <1%, 1%, and 2% of eyes with extrafoveal
nevus compared to 4%, 11%, 20%, and 29% of subfoveal choroidal
nevus. Conclusion: Mild vision loss over many years should be
anticipated in patients with subfoveal choroidal nevus.
Poster No.: OT-D1-431
Panel No.: 431
Uveal and Optic Nerve Metastasis from HER2 Poitive Breast
Carcinoma and the Response to Combination Therapy with
Paclitaxel and Trastuzumab
First Author: Konstantinos Papageorgiou
Co-Author(s): Alexander Ioannidis, Matthew Kinsella,
Ajay Sinha, Petros Andreou, Neville Davidson
Purpose: Breast cancer is the most common tumour to metastasize
to the uveal tract. The mean survival period after diagnosis of
metastasis to the eye ranges from 10 to 32 months but recent
advances in therapy including monoclonal antibodies will hopefully
improve treatment outcomes and prolong survival rates. Method:
We report the case of a 45 year old woman with a HER2 positive
breast cancer who developed two metastatic lesions on the left
choroid as well as optic nerve sheath involvement. She underwent
treatment with a combination of chemotherapy (Taxol) and anti-
HER2 monoclonal antibodies (Herceptin). Results: Nine months
later a B-scan showed resolution of the superior focus as well as
absence of blood flow within the optic nerve sheath. The infer-
onasal lesion was still present but the dimensions were reduced.
Conclusion: The patient underwent a combined treatment of
chemotherapy and Herceptin to increase the response rate.
Trastuzumab (Herceptin) is a humanized monoclonal antibody
which binds to the extracellular segment of the HER2/neu recep-