[Photodynamic therapy of circumscribed choroidal hemangioma]

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

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.

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.

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.