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Paraneoplastic Optic Neuropathy From Cutaneous Melanoma Detected by Positron Emission Tomographic and Computed Tomographic Scanning

Paraneoplastic Optic Neuropathy From Cutaneous Melanoma Detected by Positron Emission Tomographic... Paraneoplastic optic neuropathy (PON) is a rare disorder reported most commonly with small cell lung carcinoma.1 Several reports have associated cutaneous melanoma with paraneoplastic retinopathy, but to our knowledge melanoma has not been previously associated with PON. We describe a unique case of PON associated with cutaneous melanoma metastatic to lymph nodes detected by whole-body positron emission tomographic (PET) and computed tomographic (CT) scanning in a patient with bilateral optic neuropathy, vitritis, and progressive vision loss. Report of a Case A 67-year-old woman had photopsias and scotomas in her right eye for 6 weeks. Her left eye was asymptomatic. Her ocular history was unremarkable and her medical history was notable only for removal of a cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma 2 years prior. Visual acuity was 20/30 OD and 20/20 OS, with a small afferent pupillary defect in the right eye. Color vision results, tested with Ishihara plates, were 3 of 13 correct with the right eye and 13 of 13 correct with the left eye. Slitlamp and dilated funduscopic examination findings were remarkable for vitritis (right > left) and venous sheathing in both eyes. Fluorescein angiography demonstrated perivascular and optic disc leakage (right > left) (Figure 1A). Visual field testing revealed diffuse constriction in the right eye (Figure 1C). Findings were normal on the following: complete blood cell count, metabolic panel, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, chest radiography, and magnetic resonance imaging of the head and orbit. Serologies were negative for hepatitis, syphilis, Lyme disease, and toxoplasmosis, and polymerase chain reaction testing results with an anterior chamber biopsy specimen were negative for herpes simplex virus, cytomegalovirus, and varicella-zoster virus. Tuberculin purified protein derivative testing results were negative. Full-field electroretinogram findings were unremarkable. Despite initial improvement with oral corticosteroids, visual field loss continued. Because of ongoing inflammation and worsening of visual fields in both eyes (Figure 1D), visual evoked response testing was performed; it demonstrated delayed latencies (125 milliseconds OD; 132 milliseconds OS). Findings on a paraneoplastic panel including collapsin response mediator protein 5 IgG were negative, but because of increased suspicion of a paraneoplastic syndrome, whole-body PET and CT scanning was performed. It demonstrated a 1.8 × 1.5-cm right inguinal lymph node (Figure 2). Excisional biopsy revealed melanoma, and repeated pathological analysis of the “squamous cell carcinoma” diagnosed previously revealed melanoma. At her most recent visit, the patient's visual acuity was 20/30 OD and 20/20 OS. She had inactive vitritis while receiving mycophenolate mofetil, low-dose prednisone, and monthly plasmapheresis. Comment Paraneoplastic retinopathy and optic neuropathy are rare disorders.1,2 Paraneoplastic retinopathy is linked to several malignant neoplasms,3 including melanoma, but to our knowledge this is the first report of an association between metastatic melanoma and PON. Our case is further strengthened by the rigorous and systematic investigation for other potential causes and the discovery of a metastatic lesion in a patient whose course was strongly suspicious for a paraneoplastic syndrome. Greater recognition of this association is critical given the nearly 200% increase in cutaneous melanoma over the last 25 years4 and the need for heightened clinical awareness in cases of PON to prompt and guide diagnosis. The diagnosis of PON is challenging, and the most appropriate workup remains unknown. A blood sample was sent to the laboratory of Charles Thirkill, PhD, at the University of California, Davis, with initial positive results on the vasculitis assay, but confirmatory testing for autoantibodies could not be completed due to insufficient sample. However, it is clear that the absence of autoantibodies such as collapsin response mediator protein 5 IgG or the absence of neurological deficits (as in this case) does not rule out its diagnosis, and whole-body imaging should be performed in suspected cases. In this latter regard, several studies have reported that PET and CT scanning is superior to conventional imaging for detection of primary and metastatic lesions. Scanning with PET and CT uses fluorodeoxyglucose, a radioactive isotope that is taken up by actively growing and metabolically demanding cells. In disseminated carcinoma of unknown primary, Sève et al5 found that 41% and 37% of patients had a primary or metastatic tumor, respectively, that was detected on PET scanning but was undetected on conventional imaging. The best therapeutic treatment of PON is also unknown and the disease can progress despite removal of the inciting lesion. Long-term immunosuppression, plasmapheresis, and intravenous immunoglobulin all have been reported anecdotally as potential treatments; in our patient, treatment with the combination of mycophenolate mofetil, prednisone, and plasmapheresis appeared to stabilize her vision loss. In summary, we describe a case of PON due to metastatic cutaneous melanoma where the diagnosis was confirmed ultimately with PET and CT scanning that allowed timely treatment of the patient's underlying cancer. Greater awareness of this association may allow timely diagnosis and treatment of future patients. Back to top Article Information Correspondence: Dr Kim, Department of Ophthalmology, Vanderbilt Eye Institute, 2311 Pierce Ave, Nashville, TN 37232 (skim30@gmail.com). Author Contributions: All of the authors had full access to all of the data in the study and take responsibility for the integrity of the data and the accuracy of the data analysis. Financial Disclosure: Dr Kim is a paid consultant for Ophthotech, New York, New York. Funding/Support: This work was supported in part by an unrestricted grant from Research to Prevent Blindness to the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. References 1. Chan JW. Paraneoplastic retinopathies and optic neuropathies. Surv Ophthalmol. 2003;48(1):12-3812559325PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref 2. Margolin E, Flint A, Trobe JD. High-titer collapsin response-mediating protein-associated (CRMP-5) paraneoplastic optic neuropathy and vitritis as the only clinical manifestations in a patient with small cell lung carcinoma. J Neuroophthalmol. 2008;28(1):17-2218347453PubMedGoogle Scholar 3. Kim SJ, Toma HS, Thirkill CE, Dunn JP Jr. Cancer-associated retinopathy with retinal periphlebitis in a patient with ovarian cancer. Ocul Immunol Inflamm. 2010;18(2):107-10920370338PubMedGoogle Scholar 4. Geller AC, Swetter SM, Brooks K, Demierre MF, Yaroch AL. Screening, early detection, and trends for melanoma: current status (2000-2006) and future directions. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2007;57(4):555-57617870429PubMedGoogle Scholar 5. Sève P, Billotey C, Broussolle C, Dumontet C, Mackey JR. The role of 2-deoxy-2-[F-18]fluoro-D-glucose positron emission tomography in disseminated carcinoma of unknown primary site. Cancer. 2007;109(2):292-29917167760PubMedGoogle Scholar http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Archives of Ophthalmology American Medical Association

Paraneoplastic Optic Neuropathy From Cutaneous Melanoma Detected by Positron Emission Tomographic and Computed Tomographic Scanning

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References (5)

Publisher
American Medical Association
Copyright
Copyright © 2012 American Medical Association. All Rights Reserved.
ISSN
0003-9950
eISSN
1538-3687
DOI
10.1001/archophthalmol.2012.449
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

Paraneoplastic optic neuropathy (PON) is a rare disorder reported most commonly with small cell lung carcinoma.1 Several reports have associated cutaneous melanoma with paraneoplastic retinopathy, but to our knowledge melanoma has not been previously associated with PON. We describe a unique case of PON associated with cutaneous melanoma metastatic to lymph nodes detected by whole-body positron emission tomographic (PET) and computed tomographic (CT) scanning in a patient with bilateral optic neuropathy, vitritis, and progressive vision loss. Report of a Case A 67-year-old woman had photopsias and scotomas in her right eye for 6 weeks. Her left eye was asymptomatic. Her ocular history was unremarkable and her medical history was notable only for removal of a cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma 2 years prior. Visual acuity was 20/30 OD and 20/20 OS, with a small afferent pupillary defect in the right eye. Color vision results, tested with Ishihara plates, were 3 of 13 correct with the right eye and 13 of 13 correct with the left eye. Slitlamp and dilated funduscopic examination findings were remarkable for vitritis (right > left) and venous sheathing in both eyes. Fluorescein angiography demonstrated perivascular and optic disc leakage (right > left) (Figure 1A). Visual field testing revealed diffuse constriction in the right eye (Figure 1C). Findings were normal on the following: complete blood cell count, metabolic panel, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, chest radiography, and magnetic resonance imaging of the head and orbit. Serologies were negative for hepatitis, syphilis, Lyme disease, and toxoplasmosis, and polymerase chain reaction testing results with an anterior chamber biopsy specimen were negative for herpes simplex virus, cytomegalovirus, and varicella-zoster virus. Tuberculin purified protein derivative testing results were negative. Full-field electroretinogram findings were unremarkable. Despite initial improvement with oral corticosteroids, visual field loss continued. Because of ongoing inflammation and worsening of visual fields in both eyes (Figure 1D), visual evoked response testing was performed; it demonstrated delayed latencies (125 milliseconds OD; 132 milliseconds OS). Findings on a paraneoplastic panel including collapsin response mediator protein 5 IgG were negative, but because of increased suspicion of a paraneoplastic syndrome, whole-body PET and CT scanning was performed. It demonstrated a 1.8 × 1.5-cm right inguinal lymph node (Figure 2). Excisional biopsy revealed melanoma, and repeated pathological analysis of the “squamous cell carcinoma” diagnosed previously revealed melanoma. At her most recent visit, the patient's visual acuity was 20/30 OD and 20/20 OS. She had inactive vitritis while receiving mycophenolate mofetil, low-dose prednisone, and monthly plasmapheresis. Comment Paraneoplastic retinopathy and optic neuropathy are rare disorders.1,2 Paraneoplastic retinopathy is linked to several malignant neoplasms,3 including melanoma, but to our knowledge this is the first report of an association between metastatic melanoma and PON. Our case is further strengthened by the rigorous and systematic investigation for other potential causes and the discovery of a metastatic lesion in a patient whose course was strongly suspicious for a paraneoplastic syndrome. Greater recognition of this association is critical given the nearly 200% increase in cutaneous melanoma over the last 25 years4 and the need for heightened clinical awareness in cases of PON to prompt and guide diagnosis. The diagnosis of PON is challenging, and the most appropriate workup remains unknown. A blood sample was sent to the laboratory of Charles Thirkill, PhD, at the University of California, Davis, with initial positive results on the vasculitis assay, but confirmatory testing for autoantibodies could not be completed due to insufficient sample. However, it is clear that the absence of autoantibodies such as collapsin response mediator protein 5 IgG or the absence of neurological deficits (as in this case) does not rule out its diagnosis, and whole-body imaging should be performed in suspected cases. In this latter regard, several studies have reported that PET and CT scanning is superior to conventional imaging for detection of primary and metastatic lesions. Scanning with PET and CT uses fluorodeoxyglucose, a radioactive isotope that is taken up by actively growing and metabolically demanding cells. In disseminated carcinoma of unknown primary, Sève et al5 found that 41% and 37% of patients had a primary or metastatic tumor, respectively, that was detected on PET scanning but was undetected on conventional imaging. The best therapeutic treatment of PON is also unknown and the disease can progress despite removal of the inciting lesion. Long-term immunosuppression, plasmapheresis, and intravenous immunoglobulin all have been reported anecdotally as potential treatments; in our patient, treatment with the combination of mycophenolate mofetil, prednisone, and plasmapheresis appeared to stabilize her vision loss. In summary, we describe a case of PON due to metastatic cutaneous melanoma where the diagnosis was confirmed ultimately with PET and CT scanning that allowed timely treatment of the patient's underlying cancer. Greater awareness of this association may allow timely diagnosis and treatment of future patients. Back to top Article Information Correspondence: Dr Kim, Department of Ophthalmology, Vanderbilt Eye Institute, 2311 Pierce Ave, Nashville, TN 37232 (skim30@gmail.com). Author Contributions: All of the authors had full access to all of the data in the study and take responsibility for the integrity of the data and the accuracy of the data analysis. Financial Disclosure: Dr Kim is a paid consultant for Ophthotech, New York, New York. Funding/Support: This work was supported in part by an unrestricted grant from Research to Prevent Blindness to the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. References 1. Chan JW. Paraneoplastic retinopathies and optic neuropathies. Surv Ophthalmol. 2003;48(1):12-3812559325PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref 2. Margolin E, Flint A, Trobe JD. High-titer collapsin response-mediating protein-associated (CRMP-5) paraneoplastic optic neuropathy and vitritis as the only clinical manifestations in a patient with small cell lung carcinoma. J Neuroophthalmol. 2008;28(1):17-2218347453PubMedGoogle Scholar 3. Kim SJ, Toma HS, Thirkill CE, Dunn JP Jr. Cancer-associated retinopathy with retinal periphlebitis in a patient with ovarian cancer. Ocul Immunol Inflamm. 2010;18(2):107-10920370338PubMedGoogle Scholar 4. Geller AC, Swetter SM, Brooks K, Demierre MF, Yaroch AL. Screening, early detection, and trends for melanoma: current status (2000-2006) and future directions. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2007;57(4):555-57617870429PubMedGoogle Scholar 5. Sève P, Billotey C, Broussolle C, Dumontet C, Mackey JR. The role of 2-deoxy-2-[F-18]fluoro-D-glucose positron emission tomography in disseminated carcinoma of unknown primary site. Cancer. 2007;109(2):292-29917167760PubMedGoogle Scholar

Journal

Archives of OphthalmologyAmerican Medical Association

Published: Sep 1, 2012

Keywords: positron-emission tomography,optic nerve disorders,malignant melanoma, cutaneous

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