Capillary and cavernous hemangioma of the optic disc. Echographic and histological findings

The ultrasonography features of optic disc hemangioma have been described in various reports but the extreme rarity of this ocular tumour makes any univocal interpretation of echographic findings difficult. The two cases of hemangioma of the optic disc described here, one of capillary hemangioma and the other of cavernous hemangioma, presented different echographic patterns. In the capillary hemangioma B-scan showed a mass lesion with smooth anterior border, acoustic solidity and no choroidal excavation. With A-scan there was an initial high spike with low/medium internal reflectivity. In the cavernous hemangioma, B-scan showed an elevated dome-shaped mass, with an anechoic area inside, and no choroidal excavation. With A-scan there was a high initial spike and irregular reflectivity. The eyes were enucleated for intractable neovascular glaucoma. Histological examination of the lesion explained the different echographic patterns. Ultrasonography is useful in the differential diagnosis of capillary and cavernous hemangioma.