Cavitary Choroidal Metastasis from Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma

Ocular metastasis from renal malignancies - A comprehensive review

The most common cause of intraocular mass is metastasis from other tumors. Renal malignancies, though rare, have a substantial number of cases with ocular metastasis, few of which were misdiagnosed. Many a times renal malignancies present with ocular manifestations before the primary diagnosis. Here in this article, we comprehensively reviewed 106 cases of ocular metastasis from renal malignancies published till date to the best of our knowledge. The eye is a rare site for distant metastasis because of the lack of a lymphatic system. The most common ocular structures to get involved in distant metastasis are the uveal tract, i.e., choroid, iris, and ciliary body. The most common renal tumor which metastasizes to eyes is renal cell carcinoma (RCC). RCC accounts for less than 2% of all ophthalmic metastases. Out of total 106 cases, the type of renal malignancy was known in 95 cases only, of which 92 had RCC, 1 Wilm's tumor, 1 rhabdoid tumor, and 1 medullary carcinoma. The age ranged widely from 2 weeks old to 81 years old. The male to female ratio was 3.4:1. In total, 67.4% of cases had a previous history of RCC, while the rest 32.6% primarily presented with ophthalmic manifestations first. Treatment modalities included enucleation of the eye, debulking surgery followed by radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy and/or immunotherapy.

Diagnostic of small choroidal metastasis

Choroidal metastasis in 23–30 % of cases have multifocal growth. In 10–20 % of patients do not have subjective complaints, due to eccentrical localization of choroidal metastases. In these cases, they are detected by chance during examination. In the literature there is no information on the possibility of early diagnosis of “small” foci of metastatic lesions of the choroid using optical coherence tomography (OCT).The aim. To identify diagnostic signs of “small” choroidal metastases.Materials and methods. The study included 4 patients in whom “small” metastases (15 foci) were not visualized by ultrasound.Results. Choroidal metastases, which were not detected by ultrasound, mainly characterized by a multifocal growth pattern, and located mainly outside the central regions of the fundus. The OCT picture in these cases was characterized by the expansion of the choroidal complex up to 1300 μm with an asymmetric shape of the slopes, irregularities of its anterior surface with a moderate hyporeflective structure. At the same time, Bruch’s membrane was preserved, but a violation of the architectonics of the choriocapillary layer is characteristic with a flat profile of the anterior surface of the sclera. Secondary changes in the proper retina are represented by thickening of the retinal pigment epithelium, edema of the photoreceptor layer and of the nuclear layers, while neuroepithelium detachment (NED) appears mainly when the focus is more than 400 μm thick. Initially, choroidal metastasis can be detected by the fundus examination in MultiColor and OCT, as changes appear in the retina – edema of the photoreceptor layer with hyperreflective inclusions and NED, changes appear in the blue-peak autofluorescence (BAF) – hyperBAF with point hypoBAF inclusions, which leads to a change fundus pictures in MultiColor mode.Conclusion. For all patients with a burdened oncological history, even in the absence of visual complaints, in addition to an examination of the fundus of both eyes, it is necessary to provide an examination of the fundus in MultiColor and short-wave autofluorescence modes, followed by OCT in the zones of changes.

Clinical and ultrasonographic features of choroidal metastases based on primary cancer site: Long-term experience in a single center

Introduction and purpose

Choroidal metastases (CM) are the most common intraocular malignancies. With longer survival rates for cancer patients, CM will be increasingly encountered. We evaluated clinical and ultrasonographic (US) characteristics of CM in order to identify diagnostic biomarkers that correlate with the primary tumor site.

Methods

The medical records of all patients with CM evaluated at the Ocular Oncology Unit between February 2010 and March 2020 were analyzed.

Results

82 eyes of 70 patients were included. The primary cancer site was lung in 26 patients (37%), breast in 23 (33%), kidney in 9 (13%), gastrointestinal in 5 (7%), thyroid in 5 (7%), parathyroids and prostate respectively in 2 (3%). Fifty-five patients (78%) had other systemic metastases at the time of ocular diagnosis. Ten (14%) patients had no history of primary cancer. Bilateral CM were found in 20 patients (29%); fifty-six eyes (68%) had a single CM. The epicenter of CM was predominantly macula (43 eyes, 52%). The mean thickness was 4,1 mm (range 1,8–12,3). US structure was inhomogeneous in 67 eyes (82%). Reflectivity was mainly medium (39%) and medium-low (39%). In particular, CM from lung cancer showed lower reflectivity than those from the breast (p = 0,02). CM deriving from lung cancer were typically dome-shaped, whereas CM originating from breast were characteristically plateau shaped (p = 0,02). Seventy-four (91%) eyes presented fluid on optical coherence tomography.

Conclusion

We significatively found that CM from lung cancer generally appear dome-shaped with medium-low internal reflectivity, whereas those from breast cancer typically present a plateau appearance and higher internal reflectivity. Though it is hard to identify the site of the primary tumor relying exclusively on clinical and US aspects, morphology and internal reflectivity can be considered as diagnostic biomarkers. Thus, the origin of the primary tumor can be suspected by integrating a constellation of findings.

New concepts in the diagnosis and management of choroidal metastases

The most frequent site of ocular metastasis is the choroid. The occurrence of choroidal metastases has increased steadily due to the longer survival of metastatic patients and the improvement of diagnostic tools. Fundoscopy, ultrasonography, and fluorescein angiography are now complemented by indocyanine green angiography and optical coherence tomography. Choroidal tumor biopsy may also confirm the metastatic nature of the tumor and help to determine the site of the primary malignancy. There is currently no consensus on the treatment strategy. Most patients have a limited life expectancy and for these complex treatments are generally not recommended. However, recent advances in systemic therapy have significantly improved survival of certain patients who may benefit from an aggressive ocular approach that could preserve vision. Although external beam radiation therapy is the most widely used treatment, more advanced forms of radiotherapy that are associated with fewer side effects can be proposed in select cases. In patients with a shorter life expectancy, systemic therapies such as those targeting oncogenic drivers, or immunotherapy can induce a regression of the choroidal metastases, and may be sufficient to temporarily decrease visual symptoms. However, they often acquire resistance to systemic treatment and ocular relapse usually requires radiotherapy for durable control. Less invasive office-based treatments, such as photodynamic therapy and intravitreal injection of anti-VEGF, may also help to preserve vision while reducing time spent in medical settings for patients in palliative care. The aim of this review is to summarize the current knowledge on choroidal metastases, with emphasis on the most recent findings in epidemiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment.