Transpupillary Thermotherapy Icg Based Photodynamic Therapy
As a Medical test for Eye Melanoma by cindy420
- Performed On:
- 09/2009
When I was first diagnosed with a Choroidal Melanoma the doctor told me my options. They were Eucleation,brachytherapty or Transpupillarty Thermotherapy and ICG-Based Photodynamic Therapy. The doctor said that the he would recommend the latter of the choices because it seemed to have the least bad side effects that other treatments seem to have such as radiation induced complications. He said it was considered experimental by many insurances and it might not be covered.
Before he could perform this procedure he sent me for various other tests to make sure I did not have cancer anywhere else in my body. This included a complete eye exam, chest x-ray, abdominal ultra sound, and bloodwork. He said I would need to repeat these test twice a year after the treatment to rule out metastatic disease spread.
He dialated my eye and gave me anesthesia and then he in a solution of ICG green dye which will adhere to the tumor. Then he used a laser that uses heat and will turn the green dye on the tumor gray. He does this till the whole tumor is covered by grey color. The tumor is based on the tumor retaining the photosensitizing molecules of the tumor. The absorbed wavelengths absorbed by the tumor will react with tumor and damage it and eventually make it disappear if all goes well.
It is done in 3 treatments. I have only gone through two. There is very little discomfort, I was back at work a few days later. The only problem I have experienced so far is I have lost my peripheral vision.
