title: Choroidal osteoma in Oriental patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Choroidal osteoma is a rare tumour of the choroid. This is the first report of cases of choroidal osteoma in Thai patients.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To report the clinical characteristics, imaging findings and long-term follow-up of choroidal osteoma in four Oriental patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Four cases of choroidal osteoma were observed for 5 years or more.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All patients were young female patients whose ages ranged from 24 to 37 years. Three were unilateral and one was bilateral. The tumors were located at the juxtapapillary and macular area with overlying serous retinal detachment. Two patients had previous thyroid diseases and one was pregnant when the tumors were diagnosed. Osteoma did not develop in the vicinity of posterior staphyloma of high myopic eyes. Echography showed acoustic features of a plano-convex sonically dense lesion with high reflectivity echoes which persisted despite lower system sensitivity. None had subretinal neovascularization. Subretinal fluid disappeared spontaneously within one to 14 months in three patients. Gradual growth of the tumor in a pseudopodium manner developed from two to six years after initial examination. Decalcification occurred spontaneously or after laser ablation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The authors presented four Oriental patients with choroidal osteoma who were observed for at least 5 years. Echography is the best method for identifying this lesion and has unique acoustic features. Subretinal fluid can be seen in the absence of subretinal neovascularization and resorbs spontaneously. Decalcification occurred as a natural process or after laser ablative treatment. Hormonal changes may implicate the development of this tumor.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Bangkok 10110, Thailand.
authors.forename: Sukhuma
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Warrasak
authors.forename: Chanet
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Suvaranamani
authors.forename: Ataya
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Euswas
authors.forename: Vichai
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sumetpimolchai
authors.forename: Jiraporn
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Laothamatas
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002830:Choroid Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010016:Osteoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D013785:Thailand / Q000453:epidemiology