Circumscribed choroidal hemangioma: Comparative efficacy of transpupillary thermotherapy, indocyanine green-enhanced transpupillary thermotherapy, and photodynamic therapy and analysis of baseline clinical features effecting treatment outcomes.

Purpose: To compare the efficacy of transpupillary thermotherapy (TTT), indocyanine green-enhanced TTT (ICG-TTT), and photodynamic therapy (PDT) in the management of circumscribed choroidal hemangioma (CCH) and to investigate the baseline clinical features effecting treatment outcomes METHODS: Retrospective review of clinical records of 60 eyes with CCH which underwent TTT (25), ICG-TTT (22), or PDT (13). Main study outcomes were 1) final visual acuity (VA) ≤20/200, 2) <2 Snellen lines VA increase, 3) persistent subretinal fluid (SRF), and 4) <20% decrease in tumor thickness.

Results: Multivariable factors associated with final VA ≤20/200 included longer duration of symptoms (p = 0.015), lower initial VA (p = 0.030), and presence of retinoschisis overlying the tumor (p = 0.047). Multivariable factors for <2 Snellen lines VA increase were longer duration of symptoms (p = 0.018) and previous failed treatment (p = 0.003). By multivariable analysis, the only significant factor for persistent SRF was the presence of retinoschisis (p = 0.001). Multivariable factors associated with a decrease in tumor thickness by <20% were smaller initial tumor thickness (p = 0.045) and presence of retinoschisis (p = 0.014). By Pearson Chi-Square/Fisher Exact Test, final VA ≤20/200 rates (48.0%, 13.6%, 30.8% respectively, p = 0.041) and VA improvement by <2 lines rates (64.0%, 27.3%, 38.5% respectively, p = 0.036) were significantly different between TTT, ICG-TTT, and PDT groups. However, by post hoc analysis, ICG-TTT yielded statistically better outcomes compared to TTT with respect to final visual acuity (VA) ≤20/200 (p = 0.012) and <2 Snellen lines VA increase (p = 0.012).

Conclusions: Longer symptom duration, previous failed treatment, lower initial VA, and presence of retinoschisis were risk factors for worse visual outcomes. Eyes with retinoschisis displayed more SRF persistence after treatment. Smaller initial tumor thickness and presence of retinoschisis were risk factors for <20% decrease in tumor thickness.