Peripheral retinopathy and maculopathy in high-dose tamoxifen therapy

Am J Ophthalmol. 2007 Jul;144(1):126-8. doi: 10.1016/j.ajo.2007.03.023.

Abstract

Purpose: To describe the clinical, angiographic, and optical coherence tomography (OCT) features of high-dose tamoxifen retinopathy in three male patients.

Design: Observational case series.

Methods: A review of history, clinical examination, and findings on fluorescein angiography (FA) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) was conducted.

Results: Three male patients receiving high-dose tamoxifen therapy sought treatment for vision loss and a crystalline maculopathy. Crystalline deposits were noted in the peripheral retina of two patients. All the patients showed macular leakage by FA, but cystoid macular edema (CME) on OCT was detected in two patients. Inner retinal hyperreflective deposits were identified by OCT in all the patients.

Conclusions: High-dose tamoxifen therapy may result in peripheral crystalline retinopathy in addition to perifoveal opacities. Angiographic evidence of macular edema may not unanimously correlate with presence of CME on OCT in these cases.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Astrocytoma / drug therapy
  • Brain Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Estrogen Antagonists / adverse effects*
  • Fluorescein Angiography
  • Humans
  • Macular Edema / chemically induced
  • Macular Edema / diagnosis
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Retinal Diseases / chemically induced*
  • Retinal Diseases / diagnosis
  • Tamoxifen / adverse effects*
  • Tomography, Optical Coherence
  • Visual Acuity

Substances

  • Estrogen Antagonists
  • Tamoxifen