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Rhegmatogenous retinal detachment in choroidal melanoma: clinical features and surgical outcomes

Abstract

Purpose

To describe the clinical features, prognostic factors, safety and rate of success of surgery and visual outcomes in patients with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) and choroidal melanoma (CM).

Methods

A retrospective, observational case-series of 21 patients with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment or combined tractional-rhegmatogenous retinal detachment in patients with choroidal melanoma over a period of 20 years.

Results

Nineteen patients were included in the final analysis. The mean elevation of CM was 4.0 mm and the mean largest diameter was 11.0 mm. RRD occurred after the CM treatment in 14 eyes at a mean interval of 44.2 months. The RRD was macula-on RRD in 6 eyes, there was posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) in 15 and PVR in 7 eyes. BCVA at presentation was 0.71 logMAR and final was 1.5 logMAR (p = 0.01). The primary surgical success rate was 59%. No intraocular or extraocular tumour dissemination occurred. Mean follow-up was 66 months.

Conclusion

RRD in patients with CM is uncommon but requires multidisciplinary management. Anatomical results are favourable but visual outcomes are poor due to a combination of factors related to melanoma treatment, macular retinal detachment and PVR. Vitrectomy as a surgical intervention for RRD in treated CM appears to be safe in terms tumour dissemination.

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Fig. 1: Representative case: a pre-operative image of rhegmatogenous RD with an untreated choroidal melanoma.

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Data availability

The data that support the findings of this study are not openly available due to reasons of sensitivity and are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

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Funding

Funding

The research was supported by the NIHR Biomedical Research Centre at Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and UCL Institute of Ophthalmology and the NIHR Moorfields Clinical Research Facility. The views expressed are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the NHS, the NIHR or the Department of Health.

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Authors

Contributions

RA, MSS and DGC conceived and designed the research. AM, MB and MK collected the data. RA and DGC analysed the data. RA, MSS and DGC analysed and interpreted the literature. RA, AM, MB, MK, MSS and DGC drafted the manuscript and made critical revision of the manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Rodrigo Anguita.

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Anguita, R., Makuloluwa, A., Bhalla, M. et al. Rhegmatogenous retinal detachment in choroidal melanoma: clinical features and surgical outcomes. Eye 38, 494–498 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41433-023-02709-3

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