Indian Journal of Ophthalmology

PHOTO ESSAY
Year
: 2015  |  Volume : 63  |  Issue : 5  |  Page : 451--452

Bilateral optic disk metastasis from breast carcinoma


Pukhraj Rishi, Abhishek Dixit, Aditya Verma 
 Shri Bhagwan Mahavir Vitreoretinal Services, Sankara Nethralya, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India

Correspondence Address:
Dr. Pukhraj Rishi
Shri Bhagwan Mahavir Vitreoretinal Services, Sankara Nethralya, 18 College Road, Chennai - 600 006, Tamil Nadu
India




How to cite this article:
Rishi P, Dixit A, Verma A. Bilateral optic disk metastasis from breast carcinoma.Indian J Ophthalmol 2015;63:451-452


How to cite this URL:
Rishi P, Dixit A, Verma A. Bilateral optic disk metastasis from breast carcinoma. Indian J Ophthalmol [serial online] 2015 [cited 2024 Mar 28 ];63:451-452
Available from: https://journals.lww.com/ijo/pages/default.aspx/text.asp?2015/63/5/451/159886


Full Text

Ocular metastases from breast carcinoma are rare. The reported incidence of ocular metastasis varies from 0.07% to 12%; most frequently to the uveal tract. [1] Metastases limited to optic nerve occur far less frequently; more so bilaterally. We describe a case of bilateral optic disk metastasis secondary to breast carcinoma causing complete visual loss.

 Case Report



A 46-year-old lady presented with decreased vision in both eyes since 3 months. She was diagnosed of the infiltrative ductal type of breast adenocarcinoma and had a right mastectomy and 6 cycles of chemotherapy 5 years back. She was in remission for 4 years till she had lymph node and bone metastasis, 13 months back. She was retreated with 12 cycles of radiotherapy and 6 cycles of chemotherapy. Ocular examination revealed nil light perception in both eyes. Anterior segment examination revealed sluggish pupillary reaction to light in both eyes. Dilated fundus examination revealed infiltrative mass over the optic disk with intrinsic calcification and sub-retinal fluid in both eyes [Figure 1], [Figure 2], [Figure 3]a and b. Optical coherence tomography [Figure 3]c and d and ultrasound [Figure 4] revealed high reflectivity and posterior shadowing. Visual evoked potential (VEP) revealed extinguished response, bilaterally [Figure 5].{Figure 1}{Figure 2}{Figure 3}{Figure 4}{Figure 5}

 Discussion



Review of the literature reveals low rates of isolated metastases to the optic nerve (1.3-4%). [2],[3],[4] The interval between initial diagnoses of breast carcinoma to the detection of uveal metastasis is longer (range: 8-240 months) than from lung carcinoma (range: 2-15 months). [5] Our patient was diagnosed of metastasis nearly 60 months after detection of breast carcinoma. VEP revealed extinguished response, bilaterally. The patient was advised palliative therapy. In conclusion, impairment of vision in a patient with known breast carcinoma could be an alarming symptom of ocular metastasis.

References

1Shields JA, Shields CL, Singh AD. Metastatic neoplasms in the optic disc: The 1999 Bjerrum Lecture: Part 2. Arch Ophthalmol 2000;118:217-24.
2Ferry AP, Font RL. Carcinoma metastatic to the eye and orbit. I. A clinicopathologic study of 227 cases. Arch Ophthalmol 1974;92:276-86.
3Shields JA, Shields CL. Intraocular Tumors: A Text and Atlas. Philadelphia, PA: WB Saunders Co.; 1992. p. 207-38.
4Freedman MI, Folk JC. Metastatic tumors to the eye and orbit. Patient survival and clinical characteristics. Arch Ophthalmol 1987;105:1215-9.
5Stephens RF, Shields JA. Diagnosis and management of cancer metastatic to the uvea: A study of 70 cases. Ophthalmology 1979;86:1336-49.