Successful Treatment of Clinically Diagnosed Cancer-Associated Retinopathy with Intravitreal Dexamethasone Implant Followed by 0.18 mg Fluocinolone Implant without Systemic Immunosuppression.

PURPOSE: To report a case of clinically diagnosed cancer-associated retinopathy (CAR) successfully treated with intravitreal corticosteroid implants without systemic immunosuppression.

METHODS: Case report with multimodal imaging.

RESULTS: An 80-year-old man without known systemic malignancy presented with debilitating shimmering, hemeralopia and rapidly progressive bilateral vision loss following uncomplicated cataract surgery. Mild vitritis, extensive photoreceptor loss, mottling of retinal pigmentary epithelium (RPE), and mild vascular attenuation were found in both eyes. Full field electroretinogram (ffERG) showed severe bilateral rod-cone dysfunction. Infectious etiologies and vitreoretinal lymphoma were ruled out. During cancer workup, intravitreal corticosteroid treatment was offered. Significant anatomical improvement with reconstitution of ellipsoid zone, improved RPE irregularities and functional improvement, were observed 3 weeks after bilateral intravitreal dexamethasone implants (Ozurdex). 2 months later, patient received bilateral intravitreal 0.18mg fluocinolone acetonide implants (YUTIQ). Later, a colonic adenocarcinoma was found (pathologic stage pT3 pN0). Patient recovered well from surgery and no chemotherapy was needed. 9 months since bilateral intravitreal fluocinolone acetonide implants (11 months since bilateral intravitreal dexamethasone implants), best corrected vision maintained at 20/25-2 OD, 20/20 OS without ongoing treatments. Bilateral reconstitution of ellipsoid zones and nearly resolution of RPE irregularities remained stable. Repeat ffERG demonstrated improved cone response OS and stable diminished rod response OU. Patient reports resolution of ocular symptoms.

CONCLUSION: The sustained improvements with intravitreal corticosteroid monotherapy suggest potential advantages using local therapy over systemic treatment. Long term follow-up is warranted. Further research is needed to evaluate the efficacy of using 0.18mg fluocinolone implant (YUTIQ) to treat CAR.