Verteporfin therapy for choroidal hemangioma: a long-term follow-up.
BACKGROUND
To document the long-term follow-up of patients with circumscribed choroidal hemangioma who were treated with verteporfin photodynamic therapy (PDT).


METHODS
Fifteen patients were included in a prospective interventional case series. Verteporfin PDT as a bolus infusion of 6 mg/m body surface area and a light dose of 100 J/cm at 689 nm applied over 166 seconds were administered. Standardized evaluation was performed every 3 months within the first year and at 12-month intervals during follow-up.


RESULTS
At baseline, all patients presented with significant vision loss ranging from 20/26 to 20/500. During a mean follow-up of 36.6 months (range, 12-66 months), no patient had evidence of recurrence. Mean final visual acuity ranged from 20/20 to 20/400. In all patients, complete and permanent regression with no signs of tumor regrowth or recurring subretinal fluid was found. Of 15 patients, 13 had a substantial increase in visual acuity (range, 2-9 lines), and 2 patients' visual acuity remained stable. Chorioretinal atrophy at the previous tumor site did not enlarge over time. Retreatments after completion of the primary treatment were not necessary.


CONCLUSIONS
Persistent and complete absence of choroidal hemangioma associated with persistent improvement in visual acuity and central visual fields can be obtained with verteporfin PDT.
Michels
Stephan
S
University Eye Hospital Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
Michels
Rike
R
Simader
Christian
C
Schmidt-Erfurth
Ursula
U
D002830:Choroid Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006391:Hemangioma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007208:Indocyanine Green; D010778:Photochemotherapy; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011166:Porphyrins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014463:Ultrasonography; D000077362:Verteporfin; D014792:Visual Acuity
D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; D011166:Porphyrins; D000077362:Verteporfin; D007208:Indocyanine Green