High-dose ruthenium-106 plaque therapy for circumscribed choroidal hemangioma: a retrospective study of 25 Chinese patients.

Aim: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of ruthenium-106 (Ru) plaque radiotherapy at a dose (>50 Gy) higher than recommended (29-50 Gy) for treatment of circumscribed choroidal hemangioma (CCH) in Chinese patients.

Methods: This retrospective study included 25 symptomatic CCH patients undergoing Ru plaque brachytherapy involving 25 eyes between January 2005 and August 2016. Ophthalmic examination was performed at the baseline and at each post-treatment follow-up visit, using best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), dilated fundus examination, and B-scan ultrasonography. The primary efficacy outcome measures included the changes in BCVA and hemangioma dimensions at the last followup visit from the baseline.

Results: The mean follow-up duration was 28.0±26.6 (range, 12-110)mo. All the hemangiomas were located in the posterior pole except for two involving the fovea. The mean apex dose of Ru plaque radiotherapy was 84.4±19.7 Gy. The mean BCVA improved from 41.4±29.3 (0-97) at the baseline to 53.0±33.8 (0-97) ETDRS letters at the last visit (=0.01). The mean hemangioma height declined from 3.98±0.88 (2.40-5.50) mm to 0.84±1.63 (0-6.47) mm (≤0.001), and the greatest linear diameter (GLD) reduced from 9.36±2.23 (6.80-15.00) to 7.40±2.45 (0-13.00) mm (≤0.001). Hemangioma size increased in one (4%) eye with a worsened vision, and subretinal fluid completely resolved in all but one patient (4%). Radiation-related retinopathy was observed in two patients at post-treatment 9 and 11mo, respectively.

Conclusion: Ru plaque brachytherapy at a dose (>50 Gy) higher than recommended (29-50 Gy) is an effective treatment regimen for symptomatic CCH associated with significantly improved visual acuity and a favorable safety profile in Chinese patients.