Optometry Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Optometry, including details on myopia, optometric practice, therapy.

Circumscribed choroidal hemangioma: A case report and review of the literature.

Khuu T, Hoffman DJ

Dorchester House Multi-Service Center, Dorchester, Massachusetts 02122, USA. Trinh_Khuu@neco.edu

BACKGROUND: Choroidal hemangioma is a rare, benign vascular ocular tumor that presents as either a circumscribed mass or as a diffuse variant. Circumscribed choroidal hemangiomas (CCH) resemble posterior segment lesions such as choroidal melanoma, choroidal metastases, central serous chorioretinopathy, or nonspecific retinal detachment. A circumscribed choroidal hemangioma often appears as a subtle red-orange mass or as a grayish lesion in the posterior choroid. In rare instances, CCH may be associated with subretinal fluid accumulation and retinal detachment. CASE REPORT: A 35-year-old Hispanic man presented for a routine eye examination and was observed to have a choroidal lesion in the posterior pole. The lesion is an elevated subretinal mass located superotemporal to the fovea in the right eye. A Humphery visual field 24-2 test found a scotoma corresponding to the location of the lesion. B-scan ultrasound confirmed a fairly dense and large lesion. A-scan showed low to medium internal reflectivity and an acoustically solid lesion. Because the patient was asymptomatic, management through observation was recommended. CONCLUSIONS: Circumscribed choroidal hemangiomas must be adequately differentiated from other vascular tumors. A selective battery of diagnostic tests will facilitate the correct diagnosis. Management of CCH may depend on the character of the lesion and risks of ocular morbidity and vision loss.

Published 31 July 2006 in Optometry, 77(8): 384-91.
Full-text of this article is available online (may require subscription).

© 2005-2008 Optometry Research Today. All Rights Reserved.