Background: Intravitreal chemotherapy has been an effective addition in treating vitreous seeding in retinoblastoma. However, it was only in 2020 that it was used in the Philippines. There is no literature on its use in multiple Filipino retinoblastoma patients. Objectives: To describe the clinical course of the four patients who are the first to undergo intravitreal chemotherapy for vitreous seeding of retinoblastoma in the Philippine tertiary hospital. Methods: A case series of four eyes of four patients with retinoblastoma who underwent intravitreous injection of melphalan and topotecan for vitreous seeding at the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences of a Philippine tertiary hospital. Results: Two eyes, with International Intraocular Retinoblastoma Classification (IIRC) Group C with vitreous seeding, responded well to intravitreous melphalan and topotecan. One eye had recurrent vitreous seeding despite 10 intravitreal injections. One eye with IIRC Group E, did not respond to intravitreous chemotherapy and was eventually enucleated. This is the first case series on the local use of intravitreous chemotherapy in the country for vitreous seeding in retinoblastoma. The control of 50% achieved in this case series is lower than in other series due to longer treatment interval from poor follow-up and the presence of advanced disease. Conclusion The use of intravitreous melphalan and topotecan can be an effective adjuvant for systemic chemotherapy in controlling vitreous seeding in eyes with IIRC Group C. It is not effective in controlling IIRC Group E disease.
intravitreous ; melphalan ; topotecan ; retinoblastoma ; Philippines

Humans ; Multiple Myeloma ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; Melphalan

Dexamethasone ; Humans ; Melphalan ; Multiple Myeloma ; Recurrence ; Thalidomide

No abstract available.
Drug Therapy, Combination* ; Melphalan* ; Multiple Myeloma* ; Prednisone* ; Vincristine*

No abstract available.
Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute* ; Melphalan* ; Multiple Myeloma* ; Plasma Cells* ; Plasma*

Papular mucinosis, also known as lichen myxedematosus or scleromyxedema, is a chronic cutaneous disorder characterizecl by infiltration of mucin in the dermis without abnormalities of thyroid function. It often combines serum monoclonal paraproteins. Various drugs have been used for the treatment without consistent results. We report a case of papular mucinosis in a 51-year-old man, who started the disease on his scalp 10 years before the first examination. Subsequent development of the characteristic glistening papular lesions on his entire scalp, eye brows, ears and upper back continued for 5 years thereafter until complete resolution. Treatment with corticosteroids and melphalan showed only limited effects during the period.
Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; Dermis ; Ear ; Humans ; Melphalan ; Middle Aged ; Mucins ; Paraproteins ; Scalp ; Scleromyxedema* ; Thyroid Gland

For evaluation of the response and toxicity of the combination chemotherapy, forty six patients with malignant ovarian tumors who had prior surgery were treated with combination chemotherapy from January 1985 to March 1991 at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kyung-pook National University Hospital. The results were as follows : 1. The responses were in complete 20 cases(43.5%), in partial 9 cases(19,6%), in stable 6 cases(13.0%), in progressive 11 cases(23.9%) among 46 patients. 2. By the response rates of various combination chemotherapy regimens, the response rate of CAP was 64%(16/25), CP 57.1%(8/14), VAC 100%(3/3), VBP 50%(1/2), FAM 0%(0/1), and Melphalan 100%(1/1) respectively. 3. As the chemotoxicities of combination chemotherapy, leukopenia 20 cases(46.5%), thrombocytopenia 2 cases(4.7%), anemia 20 cases(46.5%), nephrotoxity 6 cases(14.6%), hepatotoxicity 7 cases(18.4%) were observed.
Anemia ; Drug Therapy* ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Gynecology ; Humans ; Leukopenia ; Melphalan ; Obstetrics ; Thrombocytopenia

Cutaneous plasmacytosis is a rare disorder characterized by multiple red-brown plaques, mainly on the trunk, which histologically show a marked hyperplasia of mature plasma cells with no mitotic figures or cellular atypia. It is sometimes accompanied by extracutaneous symptoms like lymphadenopathy or interstitial pneumonia, but without plasma cell infiltration. Although many treatments such as corticosteroid lesional injection, cyclophosphamide, melphalan, systemic PUVA, and local tacrolimus application have been introduced for cutaneous plasmacytosis, there is no reported post-treatment data on cutaneous plasmacytosis in Korea. We report a case of a Korean male patient who was diagnosed with cutaneous plasmacytosis which was improved by PUVA therapy.
Cyclophosphamide ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Korea ; Lung Diseases, Interstitial ; Lymphatic Diseases ; Male ; Melphalan ; Plasma Cells ; PUVA Therapy* ; Tacrolimus

A 76 year-old female who was diagnosed with multiple myeloma (IgG, lambda) had received bortezomib, melphalan and prednisolone as first-line treatment. After completing six cycles of chemotherapy, her serum monoclonal protein level decreased from 7.28 g/dL to 0.65 g/dL, indicating a partial response. However, at the next scheduled visit she complained of slowly progressing dyspnea. On chest X-ray, newly developed pleural effusion was found, and rapidly progressing extramedullary plasmacytoma was detected in the anterior mediastinum on chest computerized tomography. However, there was no change in her serum monoclonal protein level. In Korea, extramedullary involvement is encountered in 5% of patients with multiple myeloma. However, evaluation of treatment response using solely the serum monoclonal protein level may not accurately reflect disease status in these patients.
Drug Therapy ; Dyspnea ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Mediastinum ; Melphalan ; Multiple Myeloma* ; Plasmacytoma* ; Pleural Effusion ; Prednisolone ; Thorax ; Bortezomib

PURPOSE: To report the treatment results of mass excision and cryotherapy in a case of bilateral conjunctival amyloidosis. CASE SUMMARY: A 72-year-old man with conjunctival mass and foreign body sensations in both eyes visited our clinic. He was previously diagnosed with conjunctival lymphoma after conjunctival biopsy at another hospital. A yellow-pink colored mass was observed in the bulbar conjunctiva. A repeated conjunctival biopsy revealed the mass to be amyloid, consistent with the cervical lymph node biopsy results, and the diagnosis was changed to primary systemic amyloidosis. The patient was treated with melphalan and prednisolone; however, the ocular pain, symblepharon, and conjunctival mass progressed. A 360 degree conjunctivoperiotomy, mass excision, and repeated cryotherapy were performed in the more severely affected left eye. The patient was followed for one year, and there were no complications or progression of the conjunctival lesion. CONCLUSIONS: Conjunctival amyloidosis requires local pathologic confirmation as well as a systemic work-up. If surgical removal is necessary despite systemic treatment, mass excision and cryotherapy may be effective.
Aged ; Amyloid ; Amyloidosis ; Biopsy ; Conjunctiva ; Cryotherapy ; Eye ; Foreign Bodies ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Lymphoma ; Melphalan ; Sensation