Chemotherapy-induced complete regression of choroidal metastases and subsequent isolated leptomeningeal carcinomatosis in advanced breast cancer: a case report and literature review

Choroidal metastases from breast cancer represent an unusual metastatic pre sentation that has been traditionally treated with radiation therapy. Herein, we report a case of metastatic breast cancer presenting with pulmon ary, cutaneous, lymph node and symptomatic choroidal metastases treated wit h systemic combination chemotherapy incorporating docetaxel and mitoxantron e without induction or consolidation radiation therapy to control visual sy mptoms from choroidal metastases. The patient experienced a durable complet e remission in all metastatic sites that was maintained for 21 months since the initiation of chemotherapy, afterwhich she developed isolated leptomen ingeal carcinomatosis managed successfully with intensive intrathecal metho trexate and whole brain irradiation leading to a new complete remission mai ntained until this report; 11 months after its presentation. This is the fi rst case to our knowledge reporting complete regression of choroidal metast ases with docetaxel-based chemotherapy as the only treatment modality and s ubsequent isolated leptomeningeal carcinomatosis recurrence.