Transpupillary thermotherapy in the management of circumscribed choroidal hemangioma.

Abstract

To report a case of circumscribed choroidal hemangioma effectively managed with transpupillary thermotherapy. A 53-year-old man affected by extramacular circumscribed choroidal hemangioma had sustained a decline in visual acuity caused by subretinal fluid exudation into the macular area. Multiple attempts at treatment with scatter photocoagulation over the surface of the lesion for several years had been unsuccessful in reducing tumor-related exudation. The patient was examined on referral and underwent a single session of treatment employing transpupillary thermotherapy. The course of the lesion after treatment was documented with fundus photography and ultrasonography. Complete atrophy of the choroidal hemangioma with resorption of subretinal fluid was documented over the 6 months after transpupillary thermotherapy, with improvement in visual acuity. Transpupillary thermotherapy is an effective alternative to conventional scatter photocoagulation or radiation therapy for precise ablation of circumscribed choroidal hemangioma.