Calcification in choroidal melanoma after transpupillary thermotherapy

PURPOSE: To report the response of calcification inchoroidal melanoma after transpupillary thermotherapy. METHODS: Interventional case report. A 66-year-old male with a posterior uv eal melanoma measuring 10 X 8 X 4.4 mm underwent infrared diode laser trans pupillary thermotherapy three times, each 12 weeks apart. For each treatmen t, a 3-mm spot size of 1-minute duration was used, and the power setting va ried between 450 mW and 500 mW. RESULTS: Two months after the last transpupillary thermotherapy session, A, and B-mode echographic patterns strongly suggestive of intratumor calcific ation were observed. The tumor regressed to 2.8 mm in thickness, but calcif ication persisted. Local recurrence or distant metastasis was not detected during a follow up of 14 months. CONCLUSION: Clinically detectable calcification is extremely rare in choroi dal melanomas. Tumor regression with slowly progressive calcification may o ccur after transpupillary thermotherapy.