RUTHENIUM-106 BRACHYTHERAPY IN THE TREATMENT OF CIRCUMSCRIBED CHOROIDAL HEMANGIOMA.

Purpose: To examine the efficacy and safety of Ruthenium-106 plaque radiotherapy in the treatment of circumscribed choroidal hemangioma.

Methods: Twenty-one eyes of 21 patients diagnosed with symptomatic circumscribed choroidal hemangioma who underwent Ruthenium-106 plaque radiotherapy were included in the study. Clinical response, ancillary tests finding improvement, and major side effects were evaluated.

Results: From the initial to the 1-year follow-up visits, vision improved in 12 eyes (57%), was stable in 7 eyes (33%), and became worse in 2 eyes (10%). Based on fluorescein angiography and optical coherence tomography, subretinal fluid and cystoid macular edema resolved in all patients. Changes in logarithm of minimum angle of resolution visual acuity (P = 0.038); tumor thickness (P = 0.0001) and largest diameter (P = 0.007) on ultrasonography; and subfoveal thickness on optical coherence tomography (P < 0.0001), were statistically significant between the initial and the 1-year follow-up visits. Side effects as observed during the follow-up period included: radiation-related retinopathy in 5 (24%) eyes, radiation-related papillopathy in 1 eye (5%), and subretinal fibrosis in 2 eyes (10%). Subretinal fibrosis was the only permanent radiation-related side effect.

Conclusion: Ruthenium-106 plaque radiotherapy is an effective and safe method of treatment for symptomatic circumscribed choroidal hemangiomas. The incidence of permanent visual loss is low with prompt treatment of complications.