Triamcinolone superior to bevacizumab for retinal detachment secondary to uveal melanoma

This retrospective study found that intraoperative intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide resolves exudative retinal detachment after brachytherapy of posterior uveal melanoma more effectively than bevacizumab and with minimal side effects.

Subjects were 96 patients with extensive exudative retinal detachment (largest basal diameter >10 mm) secondary to posterior uveal melanoma who received intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide injection (4mg/0.1ml) or intravitreal bevacizumab injection (1.25mg/0.05ml) at plaque removal. Thirty-two patients served as controls.

After 37 months, triamcinolone-treated patients showed significantly greater regression of exudative retinal detachments compared to bevacizumab-treated patients (P = 0.0007) and compared to controls (P = 0.0001). Four patients in the triamcinolone cohort developed steroid-induced cataracts and none developed increased IOP. The authors found no significant different in results between the bevacizumab group and controls.