Evaluation of vascular changes with optical coherence tomography angiography after ruthenium-106 brachytherapy of circumscribed choroidal hemangioma.

Purpose: To describe the vascular changes of circumscribed choroidal hemangioma (CCH) after ruthenium-106 brachytherapy using optical coherence tomography angiography (angio-OCT).

Methods: Seven eyes of 7 patients diagnosed with symptomatic CCH who underwent ruthenium-106 plaque radiotherapy were included in the study. Patients underwent complete ophthalmic examination, bulbar echography and angio-OCT. The same protocol was applied 1 year after ruthenium-106 brachytherapy.

Results: At baseline, the mean best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) in affected eyes was 0.67 ± 0.14 logMAR, and the mean tumor thickness was 4.46 ± 0.91 mm measured by standardized A-scan echography. After ruthenium-106 plaque treatment, the mean BCVA increased to 0.17 ± 0.10 logMAR (p = 0.001) and the mean tumor thickness to 2.29 ± 0.71 mm (p = 0.003). Moreover, there was a significant reduction of the tumor basal diameter (p= 0.009). Intra-tumor angio-OCT measurements revealed a statistically significant reduction of the vessel and flow areas (p = 0.006 and p = 0.002, respectively) 1 year after brachytherapy.

Conclusions: Angio-OCT is a non-invasive reliable method with which to evaluate the vascular features of CCH and consequently to monitor changes after conservative treatment.