ULTRASONOGRAPHIC FINDINGS IN CIRCUMSCRIBED CHOROIDAL HEMANGIOMA AFTER PHOTODYNAMIC THERAPY

Circumscribed choroidal hemangioma (CCH) is a benign and relatively rare tumor located posteriorly to the equator. The most frequently associated clinical finding is an exudative retinal detachment (ERD). The aim of this work is to describe ultrasonographic findings in eyes diagnosed with CCH ERD after photodynamic therapy (PDT). Five eyes of five patients diagnosed with CCH (2 men and 3 women; 3 right eyes and 2 left eyes; mean age 50.6 (range 42-63) years) were referred to the Unit of Ocular Oncology. All cases were selected for PDT since all of them showed a macula-off ERD and hence poor visual acuity. The PDT protocol consisted of verteporfin 6 mg/m(2) body surface area and exposure to laser light dose at 689 nm at an intensity of 600 mW/cm(2) (1 to 3 sessions depending on the persistence of ERD). Ultrasonographic examination was performed by use of the I3-ABD System (posterior segment 10 MHz B-scan and 8 MHz standardized diagnostic A-scan probes, Innovative Imaging Inc., Sacramento, CA, USA). Ultrasonographic findings recorded on the first examination were consistent with those previously described for CCH in the literature. Dimensions of the tumors were very similar in all cases. However, after PDT we detected significant reduction of the height of the tumor and increased reflectivity, without changes in internal structure. Moreover, we detected retinal reattachment in all cases and therefore a slight improvement in visual acuity. Significant changes in ultrasonographic findings can be found after PDT for CCH.