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. CONCLUSION: Persistent and complete absence of choroidal hemangioma associated with persistent improvement in visual acuity and central visual fields can be obtained with verteporfin PDT.