Radiation-associated choroidal neovasculopathy.
OBJECTIVE
To characterize a newly discovered choroidal vascular abnormality in patients who have received radiation therapy for subfoveal choroidal neovascularization (CNV) secondary to age-related macular degeneration.


METHODS
Two-center cross-sectional study.


METHODS
In the United States, there were 95 patients who were treated with 10 or 12 Gy of external beam photons. In Belgium, 98 patients were treated with 20 Gy. These patients were examined retrospectively for the presence of a specific CNV abnormality.


RESULTS
During the follow-up period, an unusual vascular growth pattern was identified in 12 patients (12.6%) of those treated in the United States and in 7 (7.1%) of those treated in Belgium. These patients developed round or oval vascular blebs along the outer border of their neovascular lesions. These blebs profusely leaked fluorescein dye and could be imaged best by indocyanine green angiography. Patients with these blebs appeared to have a marked propensity for loss of visual acuity.


CONCLUSIONS
An unusual pattern of new vessel growth occurred in 19 of the 193 patients with CNV treated with radiation. This new entity, termed radiation-associated choroidal neovasculopathy, is a recognizable disorder that appears to have a particularly poor prognosis.
Spaide
R F
RF
NY LuEsther T. Mertz Retinal Research Laboratory, Manhattan Eye, Ear & Throat Hospital, New York, New York 10021, USA. rspaide@earthlink.net
Leys
A
A
Herrmann-Delemazure
B
B
Stalmans
P
P
Tittl
M
M
Yannuzzi
L A
LA
Burke
K M
KM
Fisher
Y L
YL
Freund
K B
KB
Guyer
D R
DR
Slakter
J S
JS
Sorenson
J A
JA
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002829:Choroid / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000473:pathology / Q000528:radiation effects; D020256:Choroidal Neovascularization / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D005654:Fundus Oculi; D006801:Humans; D007208:Indocyanine Green; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D009887:Ophthalmoscopy; D016491:Peripheral Vascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014792:Visual Acuity
D007208:Indocyanine Green