Long-term outcomes of retinal vasoproliferative tumors and response-based classification

To present the clinical features, management modalities, and response to treatment of the retinal vasoproliferative tumors (VPT) in a tertiary eye center.

This is a retrospective interventional cohort study that included patients diagnosed with VPT between 2014 and 2024. The medical records of all patients were retrospectively reviewed.

Eighteen eyes of 15 patients (44.12%) were included. The mean age of patients was 42.0 ± 12.6 years. The mean duration of follow-up was 70.6 ± 37.0 months. The most common location of VPT was inferotemporal (83.3%). Associated findings included subretinal fluid (100%), subretinal or intraretinal exudation (100%), and cystoid macular edema (66.7%). Significant visual improvements were achieved after intravitreal injections of bevacizumab, aflibercept, triamcinolone, and dexamethasone (P = 0.026), while significant reductions of the central subfoveal thickness were achieved after laser (P = 0.037) and pars plana vitrectomy (P = 0.034). Seven eyes had complete resolution, while 7 eyes had incomplete resolution, and 4 eyes had resistant tumors with clinical progression. The complete resolution type had significantly better visual outcomes than other types (P < 0.001).

Subretinal fluid and intraretinal/subretinal exudations are prominent clinical features of VPT. There was a significant relationship between VPT classification based on the clinical response to treatment and the visual outcomes.