Retrospective case series.
PARTICIPANTS: Factors predictive of final visual acuity of 20/40 or better versus 20/50 or worse.
RESULTS: Seventy-nine eyes of 79 patients with circumscribed choroidal
hemangioma were treated with
PDT. All
tumors were unilateral and posterior to the equator. Mean largest basal diameter was 5.7 mm (range, 2.0-10.0 mm); mean thickness was 3.0 mm (range, 1.4-4.5 mm). A total of 116
PDT sessions were performed (mean, 1.5 sessions; range, 1.0-7.0 sessions). Standard duration
PDT was used in most cases (83 seconds; n = 110/116 [95%]). Mean follow-up was 43 months. Of 79 patients, 49 (62%) demonstrated good visual acuity (≥20/40) and 30 (38%) showed intermediate to poor visual acuity (≤20/50) after
PDT. A comparison (final visual acuity, good vs. intermediate to poor) revealed a statistically significant difference in baseline features of
photopsia (100% vs. 0%; P = 0.04), initial visual acuity of 20/40 or better (77% vs. 23%; P < 0.001), mean
tumor basal diameter (5.4 mm vs. 6.2 mm; P = 0.03), mean
tumor thickness (2.9 mm vs. 3.2 mm; P = 0.01),
cystoid macular edema (CME) involving the foveola (30% vs. 70%; P = 0.001),
retinal edema overlying the lesion (39% vs. 61%; P = 0.003),
retinoschisis involving the foveola (0% vs. 100%; P = 0.002), lack of CME regardless of foveola involvement at presentation (79% vs. 21%; P < 0.001), previous treatment (33% vs. 67%; P = 0.04), and CME progression
after treatment (0% vs. 100%; P = 0.006). Partial or complete resolution of subretinal fluid was achieved in 93% of patients.
CONCLUSIONS: In this comparative analysis,
PDT was an effective treatment method for circumscribed choroidal
hemangioma. Good final visual outcome (≥20/40) was correlated with good baseline visual acuity, smaller
tumor size, lack of CME, and lack of treatment before
PDT.