Photodynamic therapy of circumscribed choroidal hemangioma

Purpose
To evaluate efficacy of photodynamic therapy (PDT) with verteporfin in treatment of posterior pole symptomatic circumscribed choroidal hemangiomas

Material and methods
Four patients (3 men and 1 woman), 15-55 years old (mean age: 29 years) with circumscribed choroidal hemangiomas of the posterior pole, were examined. The hemangiomas localization were subfoveal in one patient, extrafoveal in 2 cases, and juxtapapillar in one case. The diagnosis of choroidal hemangioma was established on the base of clinical examination, A and B – scan ultrasound imaging, Doppler ultrasonography, fluorescein and indocyanine angiography results. Tumour thickness before treatment ranged from 2.3-3.6 mm (mean thickness: 2.8 mm). One course of PDT with verteporfin was performed in 3 cases, while in one patient PDT was performed four times.

Results
In a follow-up period which range from 3 to 14 months (mean 5.7 months) all cases demonstrated clinical features of lesion regression with a reduction of thickness on ultrasonography and choroidal vasculature on angiograms. Visual acuity was improved in 3 patients (from 1 to 4 lines on Snellen charts), or remained stable in 1 case.

Conclusions
Our preliminary results indicate that PDT with verteporfin is a safe and effective method of treatment for circumscribed choroidal hemangiomas, especially in patients with posterior pole location of the tumour.