Ocular prostate cancer metastasis treated with external beam radiation

Retin Cases Brief Rep. 2011 Fall;5(4):306-8. doi: 10.1097/ICB.0b013e3181f66ad2.

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to report a rare case of ocular metastasis from prostate cancer treated successfully with external beam radiation therapy.

Methods: Case report and literature review.

Patient: A 60-year-old man with a history of metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer presented with decreased visual acuity in the right eye. Ophthalmoscopic examination showed a choroidal mass with characteristic surface retinal pigment epithelium spots (leopard spots), consistent with a metastatic tumor. The patient was treated with external beam radiation therapy. He had a dramatic improvement in visual acuity within 4 weeks of completing radiation treatment. Two and half years from radiation treatment to the right eye, he has maintained excellent vision (20/20 with best correction) in spite of systemic disease progression.

Conclusion: Uveal metastasis is a rare cause of unexplained blurred vision in the setting of metastatic adenocarcinoma of prostate. Palliative external beam radiotherapy provides effective and durable relief of symptoms during treatment and is generally a well-tolerated regimen with low risk of long-term morbidity.