title: [Photodynamic therapy of circumscribed choroidal hemangioma].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate efficacy of photodynamic therapy (PDT) with verteporfin in treatment of posterior pole symptomatic circumscribed choroidal hemangiomas.
  
  
  METHODS
  Four patients (3 men and 1 woman), 15-55 years old (mean age: 29 years) with circumscribed choroidal hemangiomas of the posterior pole, were examined. The hemangiomas localization were subfoveal in one patient, extrafoveal in 2 cases, and juxtapapillar in one case. The diagnosis of choroidal hemangioma was established on the base of clinical examination, A and B--scan ultrasound imaging, Doppler ultrasonography, fluorescein and indocyanine angiography results. Tumour thickness before treatment ranged from 2.3-3.6 mm (mean thickness: 2.8 mm). One course of PDT with verteporfin was performed in 3 cases, while in one patient PDT was performed four times.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In a follow-up period which range from 3 to 14 months (mean 5.7 months) all cases demonstrated clinical features of lesion regression with a reduction of thickness on ultrasonography and choroidal vasculature on angiograms. Visual acuity was improved in 3 patients (from 1 to 4 lines on Snellen charts), or remained stable in 1 case.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our preliminary results indicate that PDT with verteporfin is a safe and effective method of treatment for circumscribed choroidal hemangiomas, especially in patients with posterior pole location of the tumour.
authors.affiliation: Katedry i Kliniki Okulistyki Collegium Medicum, Uniwersytetu Jagiellońskiego w Krakowie.
authors.forename: Agnieszka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kubicka-Trzaska
authors.forename: Bozena
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Romanowska-Dixon
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002830:Choroid Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D018324:Hemangioma, Capillary / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010778:Photochemotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011166:Porphyrins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D000077362:Verteporfin; D014792:Visual Acuity
chemical_list: D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; D011166:Porphyrins; D000077362:Verteporfin