Overlapping Spots of Photodynamic Therapy for Treatment of Choroidal Hemangioma in Sturge-Weber Syndrome: A Case Report

Abstract

Introduction: Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has shown substantial benefit in the treatment of choroidal hemangioma (CH) in recent years. This report describes the use of PDT with overlapping spots in a patient with Sturge-Weber syndrome (SWS) and large circumscribed CH.

Case presentation: A 9-year-old girl with SWS and a history of glaucoma in her left eye was referred to a retina clinic for possible macular changes. Examination revealed decreased vision in the left eye, pigmentary changes in the macula, and choroidal thickening in the posterior pole. After being lost to follow-up for 2 years, the patient returned with further vision deterioration with best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) of 20/150 and new subretinal fluid (SRF). Imaging findings were consistent with a diagnosis of CH and SRF. PDT with verteporfin was initiated on the entire area with multiple overlapping spots, resulting in resolution of SRF and improvement in visual acuity and choroidal contour. At 18-month post-treatment, the patient's BCVA was 20/25 with no recurrence of SRF or increased choroidal thickening. Significant pigmentary changes and subretinal hyper-reflective material were observed in the OCT of the treated area.

Conclusion: Multiple overlapping laser spots of PDT can result in longstanding regression of large circumscribed CH in a patient with SWS with excellent final visual acuity. However, significant subretinal changes may also result following this method of treatment.

Keywords: Case report; Choroidal hemangioma; Photodynamic therapy; Sturge-Weber syndrome.