Retinal and vitreous metastases from hepatocholangiocarcinoma

BMC Cancer. 2017 Jun 19;17(1):430. doi: 10.1186/s12885-017-3429-8.

Abstract

Background: To report a case of metastatic hepatocholangiocarcinoma to the vitreous and retina.

Case presentation: A 70-year-old male, who was recently diagnosed with hepatocholangiocarcinoma, was complaining of floaters in his right eye over the past 5 months and was referred to the Liverpool Ocular Oncology Centre. On presentation, his visual acuity in the right eye was 6/24. Fundus exam revealed a whitish, unilateral, full-thickness retinal lesion at the inferotemporal arcade of his right eye, with vitreous infiltration and subretinal fluid. The patient underwent 25G pars plana vitrectomy with biopsy, resection of the lesion and intravitreal bevacizumab injection. Histopathology testing of the surgical specimens confirmed the diagnosis of metastatic carcinoma to the eye. Two months postoperatively his visual acuity had improved to 6/7.5 and there was no sign of active disease in his right eye, while 9 months postoperatively his visual acuity decreased to 6/9.5 due to developing nuclear sclerotic cataract in his right eye.

Conclusion: The current report presents the first case of a hepatocholangiocarcinoma metastasis to the vitreous and retina.

Keywords: Eye; Hepatocholangiocarcinoma; Metastases; Metastasis; Retina; Vitreous.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use
  • Bile Duct Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Bile Duct Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Biopsy
  • Cholangiocarcinoma / metabolism
  • Cholangiocarcinoma / pathology*
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Male
  • Retinal Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Retinal Neoplasms / secondary*
  • Retinal Neoplasms / therapy
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Vitrectomy
  • Vitreous Body / pathology*