Evaluation of hematoporphyrin photoradiation therapy to treat choroidal melanomas

Hematoporphyrin derivative‐photoradiation therapy (HPD‐PRT) was used to treat choroidal melanomas in 23 human subjects. Tumor sizes were divided into three categories: less than 500 mm 3 (11 patients), 500‐1,000 mm 3 (four patients), and greater than 1,000 mm 3 (eight patients). Tumors were exposed to 630 nm laser light at total doses of 300‐3,000 J/cm 2 . Significant tumor reduction was noted in the subjects with initial tumor volume of less than 500 mm 3 and 500‐1,000 mm 3 .