Photodynamic therapy directly over the optic nerve head to treat a papillary hemangioma.
OBJECTIVE
To show how effective photodynamic therapy (PDT) is for papillary hemangioma.


METHODS
During follow-up, a papillary hemangioma in a 7-year-old girl increased in size, reducing visual acuity. PDT (verteporfin at a dose of 6 mg/m body surface area and a light dose of 50 J/cm for 83 seconds) with a spot placed directly over the whole papilla was used to treat the tumor. A reduction in exudation and an improvement in visual acuity were achieved after two treatments.


CONCLUSIONS
In this case, PDT over a tumor on the optic nerve head allowed preservation of some visual function; this strategy can be considered a therapeutic option for tumors in this location.
From *Fundación Oftalmológica del Mediterráneo, and †Ophthalmology Service, La Fe Hospital, Valencia, Spain.
Amparo
A
Navea-Tejerina
Francisco
F
Pastor-Pascual
Aitor
A
Lanzagorta-Aresti
Maria Carmen
MC
Desco-Esteban
Enrique
E
España-Gregori