We thank Dr. Damato for his interest in our article [1]. We would like to point out that he stated in his last paragraph that “minimal residual disease is not as novel as claimed… As long ago as 1918, this concept led to Treacher Collin administering adjunctive brachytherapy… Similarly concern about the risk of minimal residual disease is the reason why my colleagues and I have administered adjunctive plaque radiotherapy… This concept is also the reason why my colleagues and I have for several years administered long-term systemic maintenance immunotherapy for patients with vitreoretinal lymphoma”. So, the thought of minimal residual disease (MRD) is accepted by Dr Damato and we agree with him that it is an important concept. However, to our knowledge, these three words have not been previously used in ocular oncology to describe this theory and thus it is the novelty of the use of MRD parlance which we are advocating.

We are not semiologists but there are certain words that exist in one language that translate to many words in another language to express a single concept. For instance, the German word “Torschlusspanik” means that time is running out and one realizes it. In fact, Pink Floyd, a famous English rock band, wrote an entire song to describe this idea that in another language could be easily stated in one word [2]. Likewise, Dr. Damato might use several sentences to describe this same concept that three words (MRD) concisely portray.

Log in or create a free account to read this content

Gain free access to this article, as well as selected content from this journal and more on nature.com

Access through your institution

or

Sign in or create an account
Continue with Google
Continue with ORCiD