Evaluation of subretinal fluid absorption by optical coherence tomography in circumscribed choroidal hemangioma after photodynamic therapy with verteporfin
Abstract
PURPOSE: To determine if optical coherence tomography (OCT) measurements of retinal thickness at the fixation point (RTFP) can be used to confirm the effectiveness of photodynamic therapy (PDT) with verteporfin in the treatment of symptomatic circumscribed choroidal hemangioma (CCH). METHODS: Nine eyes of nine patients with subretinal fluid under foveal centre were treated by PDT with a dose of 6 mg/m(2) of intravenous verteporfin administered 5 minutes before a laser irradiation at 689 nm.
Visual outcomes, initial, and final findings were evaluated using biomicroscopy, OCT, ultrasound, fluorescein angiography, and indocyanine green angiography. RESULTS: After a mean follow-up of 8 months (range, 3-18 months) OCT showed absorption of subretinal fluid in all cases (100%).
Maximal decrease of RTFP was seen within first month after treatment. Average RTFP decreased from 378 pm (range, 221 mum - 849 mum) preoperatively to 190 mum (range, 118 pm - 321 mum) postoperatively (p=0.017, paired t-test)