Serous Choroidal Detachment and Scleritis Associated with Necrotic Choroidal Tumors.

Purpose: The aim of the study was to describe choroidal detachments and concurrent scleritis associated with necrotic choroidal metastasis or melanoma. Methods: We conducted a retrospective case series. Results: We report 4 patients with scleritis and choroidal detachment with an underlying malignant choroidal tumor. All patients underwent fine-needle aspiration biopsy for cytopathologic characterization of their choroidal tumor, and they all demonstrated evidence of tumor necrosis. Two patients were diagnosed with choroidal metastasis from lung and esophageal adenocarcinoma. Both patients ultimately expired from systemic metastasis. The remaining 2 patients were diagnosed with choroidal melanoma and were successfully treated with plaque radiotherapy. Conclusion: Choroidal detachment with concurrent scleritis can occur as a rare sequelae of tumor necrosis of an underlying choroidal malignancy.

Assessing Efficacy and Use Patterns of Medical Cannabis for Symptom Management in Elderly Cancer Patients.

OBJECTIVES: Our study sought to further characterize patterns of medical cannabis use in elderly cancer patients. Furthermore, we sought to assess efficacy of medical cannabis for the treatment of pain, nausea, anorexia, insomnia and anxiety in elderly cancer patients. BACKGROUND: Medical cannabis use is growing for symptom management in cancer patients, but limited data exists on the safety or efficacy of use in elderly patients. METHODS: A retrospective chart review assessing changes in numerical symptom scores reported at clinic visits before and after medical cannabis initiation. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference in pain, nausea, appetite, insomnia or anxiety scores reported before and after initiation of medical cannabis. Oil was the most common form used, followed by vape, and the most common ratios used were high tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) to cannabidiol (CBD) and equal parts THC/CBD products. CONCLUSION: This study did not find a statistically significant change in symptom scores with medical cannabis use, although further study is warranted given the limitations of the present study. Elderly patients most commonly are using equal parts THC/CBD or high THC ratio products initially.

Vitreous metastasis from cutaneous melanoma: diagnosis and management.

PURPOSE: To report the clinical findings, treatments, and outcomes in a series of patients with vitreous metastasis from cutaneous melanoma. METHODS: This single-center, retrospective, interventional case series included patients with biopsy-confirmed vitreous metastasis from cutaneous melanoma diagnosed between 1997 and 2020. Standard 23- or 25-gauge pars plana vitrectomy was performed for diagnostic sampling. Sclerotomies were treated with double or triple freeze-thaw cryotherapy. Perioperative intravitreal injections of melphalan (32 µg/0.075 mL) were administered, when indicated. Visual acuity, intraocular pressure, and systemic and ocular treatment responses were reported. RESULTS: Five eyes of five patients with unilateral vitreous metastasis from cutaneous melanoma were identified. The median age at diagnosis was 84 (range, 37-88) years. The median follow-up after ophthalmic diagnosis was 28 (8.5-36) months; one patient did not have a follow-up. The initial visual acuity ranged from 20/30 to hand motions. Baseline clinical findings included pigmented or non-pigmented cellular infiltration of the vitreous (5/5), anterior segment (4/5), and retina (3/5). Four patients had secondary glaucoma. Systemic therapy included checkpoint inhibitor immunotherapy (n=3, all with partial/complete response), systemic chemotherapy (n=2), surgical resection (n=3), and radiation (n=2). The median time from primary diagnosis to vitreous metastasis was 2 (2-15) years. One patient had an active systemic disease at the time of vitreous metastasis. The final visual acuity ranged from 20/40 to no light perception. Ophthalmic treatment included vitrectomy in all five patients, intravitreal administration of melphalan in three, and intravitreal administration of methotrexate in one. One patient required enucleation, and histopathology revealed extensive invasion by melanoma cells. CONCLUSIONS: Vitreous metastasis from cutaneous melanoma can present as a diffuse infiltration of pigmented or non-pigmented cells into the vitreous and may be misdiagnosed as uveitis. Diagnostic pars plana vitrectomy and periodic intravitreal chemotherapy may be indicated.

Ocular Surface Squamous Neoplasia Masquerading as Recalcitrant Epithelial Keratitis.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to report a unique case of ocular surface squamous neoplasia that masqueraded as a nonresolving toxic epithelial keratitis. METHODS: This was a case report and review of the literature. RESULTS: A 79-year-old man presented with decreased vision, redness, and a foreign body sensation in his right eye that was refractory to treatment with lubrication and topical nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drops. Before presentation, the referring provider believed that he had medicamentosa-related keratitis and placed him on oral methazolamide. Slitlamp biomicroscopy of the right eye revealed diffuse epitheliopathy with punctate fluorescein staining and subtle underlying corneal epithelial opalescence. A mildly thickened and inflamed pinguecula was noted from 2 to 5 o'clock at the limbus of the right eye. An anterior segment high-resolution optical coherence tomography revealed thickened, hyperreflective epithelium with an abrupt transition. An incisional biopsy confirmed conjunctival and corneal intraepithelial neoplasia. The patient improved after 4 cycles of topical chemotherapy with 1% 5-fluorouracil eye drops with complete resolution of the corneal and conjunctival pathology. CONCLUSIONS: Ocular surface squamous neoplasia can rarely masquerade as a recalcitrant medicamentosa and epithelial keratitis. In subtle cases or in cases with combined ocular surface morbidities, anterior segment high-resolution optical coherence tomography can be helpful to diagnose and direct therapy.

Cyst-like recurrence of retinoblastoma diagnosed by multimodal imaging.

Purpose: To illustrate the diagnosis and management of an atypical, cyst-like recurrence of retinoblastoma. Observations: A 4-month-old boy was diagnosed with Group B retinoblastoma in the right eye, consisting of a 10 x 9 × 3.6 mm retinal tumor temporal to the macula. He was treated with one session of intra-arterial ophthalmic artery chemotherapy using melphalan, followed by three sessions of diode laser transpupillary thermotherapy (TTT), after which complete tumor regression was achieved. 45 weeks after initial treatment, a cystic lesion was detected adjacent to superior margin of the regressed tumor scar. The differential diagnosis included pigment epithelial detachment, retinal gliosis, secondary retinoschisis, and local tumor recurrence. Multimodal imaging including OCT angiography confirmed the diagnosis of local recurrence manifesting as a vascularized cyst-like lesion. Two additional sessions of TTT achieved sustained tumor regression through 16 months of additional follow-up. Conclusions and Importance: Recurrence of retinoblastoma following chemotherapy typically manifests as enlargement of a previously regressed tumor, or seeding into the vitreous or subretinal space. An unusual cyst-like recurrence of retinoblastoma at the margin of a previously regressed tumor was diagnosed by multimodal imaging. Focal diode laser transpupillary thermotherapy was curative.

A review of treatment for retinopathy of prematurity.

INTRODUCTION: Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a leading cause of childhood blindness worldwide. AREAS COVERED: Recent methods to identify and manage treatment-warranted vascularly active ROP are recognized and being compared to standard care by laser treatment in prospective large-scale clinical studies. Pharmacologic anti-angiogenic (anti-VEGF) treatment has changed the natural history of vascularly active ROP by reducing stage 3 intravitreal neovascularization and extending physiologic retinal vascularization in many infants. Tractional retinal detachments in stage 4 ROP after treatment with anti-VEGF agents show additional fibrovascular complexity compared to eyes treated with laser only. We review current management and outcomes for vascularly active and fibrovascular retinal detachment in ROP (stages 3, 4, 5 ROP), highlighting the evidence from recent clinical studies. Included are technical details important in surgery for retinal detachment in ROP. Literature searches were employed through PubMed. EXPERT OPINION: Methods in pediatric imaging, safer pharmacologic treatments, and surgical techniques continue to advance to improve future ROP outcomes.

Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging Ophthalmoscopy (FLIO) in Eyes With Pigment Epithelial Detachments Due to Age-Related Macular Degeneration.

Purpose: To investigate fluorescence lifetime imaging ophthalmoscopy (FLIO) in neovascular AMD and pigment epithelial detachments (PEDs). Methods: A total of 46 eyes with PEDs (>350 µm) as well as age-matched healthy controls were included in this study. We found 28 eyes showed neovascular AMD (nvAMD), and 17 had nonneovascular (dry) AMD (dAMD). The Heidelberg Engineering FLIO excited fluorescence at 473 nm. Fluorescence decays were detected in two spectral channels (498-560 nm; 560-720 nm) to determine fluorescence lifetimes of endogenous fluorophores in their specific spectral emission ranges. Mean fluorescence lifetimes (τm) were investigated. Multimodal imaging was reviewed by two ophthalmologists who circumscribed and classified PEDs as either serous (n = 4), hemorrhagic (n = 4), fibrovascular (n = 16), drusenoid (n = 17), or mixed (n = 5). Blood samples from a healthy subject and a patient with PED were investigated in a quartz cuvette. Results: Eyes with nvAMD show similar FLIO patterns to dAMD: ring-shaped prolongations of τm 3 to 6 mm from the fovea. Different PED-forms show characteristic τm, while serous and hemorrhagic PEDs exhibit shortened τm, drusenoid PEDs show prolonged τm, and τm in fibrovascular PEDs is variable. Areas corresponding to sub-/intraretinal fluid display shortened τm. Ex vivo studies of blood also show short τm. Conclusions: The previously described dAMD-related FLIO pattern is also present in nvAMD. Short τm in serous, fibrovascular, and hemorrhagic PEDs as well as sub/intraretinal fluid may disrupt this pattern. FLIO appears to differentiate between PEDs, hemorrhage, and fluid. Additionally, ex vivo studies of human blood help to better interpret FLIO images.

Chronic Pain, Functional Status, and Life Satisfaction Are Associated With Patients Living With HIV Discussing Advance Care Planning With Their Family or Friends.

CONTEXT: In the era of effective antiretroviral therapy, persons living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) are living longer, transforming HIV from a universally fatal disease to a serious chronic illness, warranting discussions between patients and their loved ones about advance care planning (ACP). Evidence is needed on factors associated with patients' likelihood to discuss ACP with loved ones. OBJECTIVES: To further characterize factors associated with successful ACP in PLWHAs with their loved ones, we examined associations between patients having ACP discussions with the need for assistance with personal care, chronic pain, life satisfaction, prior family disagreements over health care decisions, sex, age, and interference in daily routines due to memory problems. METHODS: Data were from the Affirm Care study (N = 370), which examined social and environmental factors associated with health outcomes among PLWHAs and their informal caregivers. RESULTS: Slightly more than half of respondents discussed ACP with loved ones (57%). In adjusted analysis, higher levels of chronic pain (odds ratio [OR] = 2.09, P = 0.045), needing assistance with personal care (OR = 1.63, P = 0.023), greater life satisfaction (OR = 1.02, P = 0.002), prior family arguments over health care decisions (OR = 2.80, P < 0.001), and female sex (OR = 2.22, P = 0.001) were associated with higher odds of discussing ACP with loved ones, whereas age, drug use, education level, depression, and memory problems were nonsignificant. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that interventions to increase ACP among PLWHAs and their loved ones should target males. The findings also suggest PLWHAs with chronic pain, the need for assistance with personal care, and those with a history of prior family arguments over health care decisions may be primed for ACP.

Vitreous metastasis from cutaneous melanoma: diagnosis and management / Metástase vítrea de melanoma cutâneo: diagnóstico e tratamento

ABSTRACT Purpose: To report the clinical findings, treatments, and outcomes in a series of patients with vitreous metastasis from cutaneous melanoma. Methods: This single-center, retrospective, interventional case series included patients with biopsy-confirmed vitreous metastasis from cutaneous melanoma diagnosed between 1997 and 2020. Standard 23- or 25-gauge pars plana vitrectomy was performed for diagnostic sampling. Sclerotomies were treated with double or triple freeze-thaw cryotherapy. Perioperative intravitreal injections of melphalan (32 µg/0.075 mL) were administered, when indicated. Visual acuity, intraocular pressure, and systemic and ocular treatment responses were reported. Results: Five eyes of five patients with unilateral vitreous metastasis from cutaneous melanoma were identified. The median age at diagnosis was 84 (range, 37-88) years. The median follow-up after ophthalmic diagnosis was 28 (8.5-36) months; one patient did not have a follow-up. The initial visual acuity ranged from 20/30 to hand motions. Baseline clinical findings included pigmented or non-pigmented cellular infiltration of the vitreous (5/5), anterior segment (4/5), and retina (3/5). Four patients had secondary glaucoma. Systemic therapy included checkpoint inhibitor immunotherapy (n=3, all with partial/complete response), systemic chemotherapy (n=2), surgical resection (n=3), and radiation (n=2). The median time from primary diagnosis to vitreous metastasis was 2 (2-15) years. One patient had an active systemic disease at the time of vitreous metastasis. The final visual acuity ranged from 20/40 to no light perception. Ophthalmic treatment included vitrectomy in all five patients, intravitreal administration of melphalan in three, and intravitreal administration of methotrexate in one. One patient required enucleation, and histopathology revealed extensive invasion by melanoma cells. Conclusions: Vitreous metastasis from cutaneous melanoma can present as a diffuse infiltration of pigmented or non-pigmented cells into the vitreous and may be misdiagnosed as uveitis. Diagnostic pars plana vitrectomy and periodic intravitreal chemotherapy may be indicated.

RESUMO Objetivo: Descrever os achados clínicos, tratamentos, e desfechos em uma série de pacientes com me tástases vítreas de melanoma cutâneo. Métodos: Série retrospectiva de casos de único centro com intervenção. Pacientes incluídos tiveram seu diagnóstico de MVMC confirmado por biópsia entre 1997 e 2020. Vitrectomia via pars plana com 23 ou 25 gauge foram realizadas para obter espécimens. Esclerotomias foram tratadas com crioterapia em duplo ou triplo congelamento. Injeção intravítrea perioperatória de melfalano (32 ug/0,075 mL) foi administrada quando necessário. Foram relatados acuidade visual, pressão intraocular, resposta terapêutica sistêmica e ocular. Resultados: Cinco olhos de 5 pacientes com metástases vítreas de melanoma cutâneo unilateral foram identificados. Idade média de diagnóstico foi 84 anos (variando de 37-88). Seguimento médio após diagnóstico oftalmológico foi 28 (8,5-36) meses; 1 paciente não teve acompanhamento. Acuidade visual inicial variou de 20/30 a movimentos de mão. Achados clínicos iniciais incluíram infiltração de células pigmentadas e não-pigmentadas no vítreo (5/5), segmento anterior (4/5), e retina (3/5). Quatro pacientes tiveram glaucoma secundário. Tratamento sistêmico incluiu imunoterapia com inibidores da via de sinalização (3 - todos com resposta parcial/completa), quimioterapia sistêmica (2), ressecção cirúrgica (3), e irradiação (2). Intervalo médio entre diagnóstico primário e metástases vítreas foi 2 (2-15) anos. Um paciente teve doença sistêmica ativa simultânea as metástases vítreas. Acuidade visual final variou entre 20/40 e SPL. Tratamento oftalmológico incluiu vitrectomia nos 5 pacientes, melfalano intravítreo em 3 e metotrexato intravítreo em 1. Um paciente precisou de enucleação. A histopatologia revelou invasão celular extensa de melanoma. Conclusões: Metástases vítreas de melanoma cutâneo pode se manifestar como uma infiltração difusa de células pigmentadas e não-pigmentadas no vítreo e erroneamente diagnosticada como uveites. Vitrectomia diagnóstica e quimioterapia intravítrea periódica podem estar indicadas.

Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Toxicity Review for the Palliative Care Clinician.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have opened an exciting chapter in the treatment of patients with advanced cancer. For the palliative care clinician, however, ICIs present several new challenges, including new ways to define treatment success, as well as treatment-related toxicities that differ in nature and timing from traditional chemotherapy. In this article, we review the mechanism of action of ICIs, as well as selected published data supporting the efficacy of ICIs in patients with advanced cancer. In addition, we summarize existing data of ICI toxicity prevalence, patterns of severity, and timing of onset. Finally, we briefly review key principles from published guidelines on the management of ICI toxicities.

Correlates of Patterns of Health Values of African Americans Living With HIV/AIDS: Implications for Advance Care Planning and HIV Palliative Care.

CONTEXT: Advance care planning rates remain low, especially among people who are HIV positive, disadvantaged, and African American. Although advance care planning can be a sensitive topic for clinicians and patients to discuss, health values clarification can be an important initial step. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of the study was to explore health values of African Americans living with HIV/AIDS and to examine correlates of these values. METHODS: Data were from the first 325 participants in the AFFIRM Care study, which enrolled adults living with HIV/AIDS in Baltimore, Maryland, who had histories of illicit drug use. Respondents were asked whether (yes/no) they thought any of six health states would be worse than death: severe unremitting pain, total dependency on others, irreversible coma, being on mechanical ventilation, nursing home residence, and severe dementia. Latent class analysis was used to group individuals by their pattern of responses, interpretable as preference for aggressive (life-sustaining) or nonaggressive (palliative) end-of-life care. Latent class regression analysis was used to examine associations between class membership and background, health status, and social variables. RESULTS: We found statistical support for a three-class latent class analysis model: 1) the nonaggressive treatment class, comprising 43% of cases, in which members perceived that every state was worse than death; 2) the aggressive treatment class, comprising 33% of cases, in which members perceived that none of the states was worse than death; and 3) the mixed class (24% of cases), in which members perceived that only four of the six states were worse than death. CONCLUSION: Three-quarters of participant response patterns had clear preferences for treatment decisions. Further research is needed to ensure inclusion of end-of-life scenarios relevant to this population.

Chronic Pain, Patient-Physician Engagement, and Family Communication Associated With Drug-Using HIV Patients' Discussing Advanced Care Planning With Their Physicians.

CONTEXT: In the era of effective antiretroviral therapy, persons living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) are living longer, transforming HIV into a serious chronic illness, warranting patient-provider discussion about advanced care planning (ACP). Evidence is needed to inform physicians on how to approach ACP for these patients. Chronic pain is common in PLWHA, particularly in those who have substance use disorders; although it is known that this population is at risk for poorer patient-physician engagement, the effects on ACP are unknown. OBJECTIVES: To further characterize factors associated with successful ACP in PLWHA, we examined associations between patient-physician relationship, chronic pain, family communication and problem-solving skills, and rates of patients discussing ACP with their physicians. METHODS: Data were from the Affirm Care study (N = 325), which examined social and environmental factors associated with health outcomes among PLWHA and their informal caregivers. RESULTS: In multivariate analysis, higher odds of patient reports of discussing ACP with their physicians were associated with their higher rating of their relationship with their physician (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 1.73; P < 0.05), higher levels of chronic pain (AOR 2.16; P < 0.05), experiencing prior family arguments about end-of-life medical decisions (AOR 2.43; P < 0.01), and feeling comfortable talking to family members about problems (AOR 1.33; P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that interventions to increase ACP among HIV patients and their physicians should promote patient-centered patient-provider relationships and PLWHAs' family communication and family problem-solving skills. The findings also suggest that PLWHA with chronic pain and prior family discord over end-of-life medical decisions may be primed for ACP.

Changing Treatment Patterns of ROP at a Tertiary Medical Center Between 2002 and 2012.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To clinically correlate and evaluate the screening and treatment patterns of retinopathy of prematurity by a single physician at a tertiary care center between 2002 and 2012. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A group of 10,924 newborns screened for ROP between 2002 and 2012 were retrospectively analyzed in a consecutive case series. Records of the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at Jackson Memorial Hospital/Bascom Palmer Eye Institute were reviewed to identify patients clinically diagnosed with retinopathy of prematurity who underwent treatment. RESULTS: Laser photocoagulation was used to treat 231 of 10,924 (2.1%). Of these 231 patients, 176 (76.2%) were included in the study (55 infants were excluded because they were referred from outside institutions for advanced ROP). Of the 176 treated patients, 89 (50.6%) were male and 87 (49.4%) were female. The average birth weight was 687.3 g. The mean gestational age was 24.8 weeks. The mean time between birth and treatment was 3 months. Of the 176 patients, 31 required re-treatment with laser photocoagulation. The rates of treatment and retreatment significantly declined with the experience of the treating physician ( P < .01). Retinal detachment occurred in two of 176 patients (1.1%). CONCLUSION: Experience is essential in delivering optimal care in a complex disease such as ROP. Between 2002 and 2012, the rate of treatment and retreatment significantly decreased. Possible reasons include improvements in neonatal care, but it is more likely that the rate of treatment and re-treatment is inversely proportional to the ophthalmologist's experience with and comfort in managing ROP.