Sa. Madreperla et al., CHOROIDAL HEMANGIOMAS - VISUAL AND ANATOMIC RESULTS OF TREATMENT BY PHOTOCOAGULATION OR RADIATION-THERAPY, Ophthalmology, 104(11), 1997, pp. 1773-1778
Purpose: Choroidal hemangioma is a benign hamartoma that causes accumu
lation of subretinal fluid and resultant visual loss, Although photoco
agulation can result in resolution of subretinal fluid, some have foun
d that recurrence is common and final visual acuity often is poor. The
purpose of this study is to evaluate the visual and anatomic results
of radiation therapy and photocoagulation in treating patients with vi
sual loss from choroidal hemangiomas. Methods: A retrospective review
was performed of patients with circumscribed choroidal hemangiomas (CC
H) or diffuse choroidal hemangiomas (DCH) treated for visual loss caus
ed by accumulation of subretinal fluid. Of 23 patients with CCH, 13 we
re treated by photocoagulation, 8 by plaque brachytherapy, and 2 by le
ns-sparing external beam radiation therapy (LSRT), All five patients w
ith DCH were treated by LSRT. Results: Of patients with CCH treated by
brachytherapy, six (75%) of eight had visual acuity of 6/12 or better
at 1 year and 8 (100%) of 8 had no subretinal fluid. Of patients with
CCH treated by photocoagulation, 5 (38%) of 13 had visual acuity of 6
/12 or better at 1 year and 6 (46%) of 13 had no subretinal fluid, Of
patients with CCH treated by LSRT, none of two had visual acuity of 6/
12 or better at 1 year and one of two had no subretinal fluid. Of the
five patients with DCH treated by LSRT, all had complete resolution of
subretinal fluid, Two had marked visual improvement and in the other
three, vision was stabilized. Conclusions: Plaque brachytherapy is an
effective alternative to photocoagulation for treatment of subretinal
fluid caused by CCH. Lens-sparing external beam radiation therapy is e
ffective treatment in patients with DCH.