An Unusual Association Between Pancreatic Cancer and Purtscher-like Retinopathy

An Unusual Association Between Pancreatic Cancer and Purtscher-like Retinopathy: Presentation of a Unique Case

AN UNUSUAL ASSOCIATION BETWEEN PANCREATIC CANCER AND PURTSCHER-LIKE RETINOPATHY

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Pancreatic Cancer; Purtscher Retinopathy
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: Methylprednisolone

Detailed Description

Purtscher's retinopathy may cause sudden loss of vision of varying severity, secondary to head or chest injury. Its pathophysiology is unclear. Purtscher's-like retinopathy has more attenuated clinical and objective features and can be associated with many non-neoplastic pathologies.

Otherwise, an association of this kind of retinopathy with malignancies has been described once in the Literature (multiple myeloma). We present a case report on a unique association between pancreatic cancer and Purtscher-type retinopathy.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 1

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Italy
  • Catania, Italy, 95123
    • Eva Intagliata

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Child; Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: Male

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

No population, only one patient

Description

Inclusion Criteria: NONE -

Exclusion Criteria: NONE

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Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Observational Models: Case-Only
• Time Perspectives: Prospective

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
funduscopic examination	At the funduscopic examination the back of the eye showed large yellow spots and retinal hemorrhages in the superficial retina. In the early stages, fluorescein angiography showed hypofluorescence in the area of the yellow-white patches while the late stages showed hyperfluorescence	at the onset of symptoms

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
abdominal CT-scan	CT scan of the abdomen revealed a large mass in the tail of the pancreas with direct extension to the vessels of splenic hilum and splenic vein thrombosis. A secondary invasion of the gastric wall and left adrenal gland was also demonstrated. Percutaneous needle biopsy was performed and histopathology showed moderate to poorly differentiated mucinous pancreatic adenocarcinoma.	at the onset of symptoms

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Unusual association between Purtscher-like retinopathy and a malignant disease (pancreatic cancer)	Ocular history and medical history were irrelevant.	at the diagnosis
Therapy	An improvement of the macular edema and of the sight was reported after one-month administrating 1 g. of methylprednisolone in saline solution 250 cc once a day for 5 days, and one eye drops of Diclofenac per eye 3 times a day. The patient was not found fit for surgical treatment of his pancreatic cancer and therefore oncologic palliative medical treatment was performed.	after 1 month from diagnosis

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Catania

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): June 18, 2021
• Primary Completion (Actual): July 31, 2021
• Study Completion (Actual): November 1, 2021

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: April 14, 2022
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 23, 2022
• First Posted (Actual): April 28, 2022

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): April 28, 2022
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 23, 2022
• Last Verified: April 1, 2022

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Digestive System Diseases; Neoplasms; Neoplasms by Site; Eye Diseases; Endocrine System Diseases; Digestive System Neoplasms; Endocrine Gland Neoplasms; Pancreatic Diseases; Retinal Diseases; Pancreatic Neoplasms; Physiological Effects of Drugs; Autonomic Agents; Peripheral Nervous System Agents; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Antineoplastic Agents; Antiemetics; Gastrointestinal Agents; Glucocorticoids; Hormones; Hormones, Hormone Substitutes, and Hormone Antagonists; Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal; Neuroprotective Agents; Protective Agents; Prednisolone; Methylprednisolone Acetate; Methylprednisolone; Methylprednisolone Hemisuccinate; Prednisolone acetate; Prednisolone hemisuccinate; Prednisolone phosphate
• Other Study ID Numbers: UCatania666

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: No

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No