Choroidal metastases are considered the most common intraocular malignancy in adults. [1] [2] The primary site may be anywhere, but the highest incidence is from breast cancer in women and lung cancer in men. [3] Male breast cancer is very rare; it represents approximately less than 1% of all breast cancers, [4] making the diagnosis of choroidal metastasis from breast cancer in males a rarer event. According to the literature, treatment of such metastases is usually based on radiotherapy alone or in combination with systemic chemotherapy or anti-estrogen therapy. [1] [3] We report an uncommon case of breast cancer being the source of choroidal metastasis in a male patient which was treated with systemic chemotherapy alone and resulted in partial resolution of symptoms.

A 63-year-old man presented with blurred vision and a progressive loss of visual acuity for approximately two weeks. Medical history was remarkable for infiltrating breast carcinoma with negative complete work-up, for which he has had mastectomy, radiation therapy and chemotherapy in 2009. Ophthalmic examination showed exophthalmos of the right eye without ptosis. Ocular motility was normal. Best corrected visual acuity was (BCVA) 3/10 on the right eye and 7/10 on the left eye. Anterior segment examination was normal on both eyes with no dense cataracts observed. Fundoscopy under pupil dilatation in the right eye revealed an ill-defined choroidal mass in the upper temporal arcade, impinging on the macula and surrounding the papilla. The mass was associated with pigment epithelium impairment and normal optic discs, without macular edema. Fundoscopy in the left eye did not reveal any tumor. Standardized B-scan ultrasonography of the right eye revealed a posterior, hyperechogenic tumor of the choroid with secondary retinal detachment associated with choroidal thickening (Figure 1). Indocyanine green chorioangiography (ICG) was unremarkable in the left eye, but revealed a tumor in the right eye (Figures 2, 3). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a right ocular expansive lesion with non-circumferential posterior choroidal thickening (Figure 4).

According to these findings, a diagnosis of choroidal metastasis from breast cancer was established. A complete workup did not show any evidence of distant metastasis.

The patient refused to be treated with radiotherapy due the risk of complications of such treatment and he received systemic chemotherapy every three weeks for six cycles, (epirubicin 100 mg/m², cyclophosphamide 500 mg/m², 5-fluorouracil 500 mg/m²). Five months into treatment, the patient reported a decrease in symptoms, his BCVA improved to 6/10 and the choroidal lesion showed complete regression on both MRI and fundoscopy (Figures 5, 6, 7).

Breast cancer accounts for 39–49% of all uveal metastases, [2] and the choroid represents the most common site of uveal involvement by metastatic disease, [5] likely because of its highly vascular structure and relatively slow blood flow allowing for hematogenous spread. In fact, the true incidence of choroidal metastases from breast cancer is underestimated due to the lack of routine ocular screening for all breast cancer patients, [5] the late onset in the course of the disease and other predominant systemic symptoms. [6] It has been estimated that in the United States, approximately 25 cases of choroidal metastasis can be expected per year in men with breast cancer. [7] To the best of our knowledge, only 23 cases of choroidal metastasis from breast carcinoma, in men, were reported in literature. The mean age at discovery of choroidal metastasis and the mean interval from diagnosis of primary cancer were respectively 57.5 and 13.5 years. [6] Choroidal metastasis can be unilateral or bilateral and unifocal or multifocal. [6] Breast cancer metastases have the greatest likelihood of occurring multifocally and bilaterally, with 33% patients afflicted in both eyes [1].

Ocular metastasis from breast cancer may be either the initial manifestation or the initial site of systemic metastasis or preceded by metastases to other organs. [5] [6] Furthermore, the dissemination of breast cancer to more than one organ and the presence of lung and brain metastases were significant risk factors for choroidal metastasis. [8]

Only a minority of patients with choroidal metastasis are asymptomatic, likely due to other predominant systemic symptoms consistent with other metastases. Painless blurred vision is the most common symptom. [1] Other presenting symptoms may include flashes and floaters, pain, field defects or metamorphopsia. [1]

Choroidal metastases from breast cancer are typically, yellow in color, plateau shaped, with a mean thickness of only two mm in the largest tumor focus. [1] According to Zographos, [9] there are two different forms of choroidal metastasis, the nodular form which represents usually a well-limited tumor and the diffuse form which is an ill-defined mass with pseudopod-like shape. In fact, it is difficult to specify the limits of the tumor in the diffuse form. In this case, we were unable to define with precision the limits of the lesion. Choroidal metastasis may be associated with detachment of the retina and alterations of the retinal pigment epithelium. B-scan ultrasonography is the most valuable tool which visualizes shape, size, extent of the tumor and associated retinal detachment. Fine-needle aspiration biopsy or biopsies with a vitreous cutter are often not performed due to the risk of either intraocular or extraocular tumor spread. [10]

Differential diagnosis include amelanotic nevi, choroidal hemangioma, posterior scleritis, choroidal osteoma, rhegmatogenous retinal detachment and a host of inflammatory conditions, such as cytomegalovirus retinitis or fungal choroiditis. [11] However, the most important diagnosis to rule out is a primary choroidal melanoma. In fact, primary melanomas are darkly pigmented or amelanotic, collar button shaped, unilateral and unifocal, may occur anywhere and do not have affinity for the posterior choroid. [11]

After the diagnosis of choroidal metastasis, the patient should be referred to an ocular oncologist familiar with the treatment options. The choice of treatment depends on the general health of the patient, tumor size and activity, patient symptoms, presence of other metastatic sites, visual impact of the tumors as well as treatment itself. The most commonly performed treatments are external beam radiotherapy, episcleral plaque brachytherapy or proton beam therapy. Systemic chemotherapy or anti-estrogen therapy may represent another option. [5] [6] Usually, if there is no evidence of systemic metastases, radiotherapy based treatment can be limited to the eye, [5] especially if the metastasis is active and vision threatening. [12] Plaque therapy may be especially warranted in the case of solitary uveal metastasis. [13] In case of widespread disease, systemic treatment may represent a better alternative. [6] In fact, treatment with radiotherapy induces several side effects including anterior and posterior segment manifestations, e.g dry eyes, cataract, radiation optic neuropathy and radiation neuropathy. [13] [14] Systemic chemotherapy or anti-estrogen therapy has been shown to be an effective treatment for choroidal metastases. [15] [16] In this case, we observed a partial resolution of symptoms with chemotherapy alone. Based on the results of this case, we can conclude that chemotherapeutic agents could be effective against choroidal metastases from breast cancer. In case of refusing radiotherapy, such patients may be treated solely with systemic chemotherapy which represents a better alternative. Lastly, enucleation as a radical treatment is reserved for blind, painful eyes usually due to neovascular glaucoma.

After treatment, these patients should be monitored every three to four months with regular dilated fundoscopic examinations due to the risk of recurrence and contralateral choroidal metastasis and whenever in doubt, an ICG angiography should be performed.

As reported in the literature, patients with choroidal metastasis from breast cancer have a poor prognosis with a mean survival following the diagnosis of about 21 months. [5]

In male as in female patients, breast cancer cells may metastasize to the choroid and such metastases should be suspected whenever a patient with a past medical history of breast cancer presents with blurred vison. An appropriate ophthalmology exam with at least fundoscopy should be indicated. An awareness of the signs and symptoms is necessary for prompt recognition of these metastases in order to establish the appropriate therapeutic management and improve vision and quality of life. Treatment strategy is still based essentially on radiotherapy and should be considered individually depending on size, localization, presence of metastases to other organs and general condition of the patient.

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