Ruthenium-106 brachytherapy for peripheral retinal capillary hemangioma.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of ruthenium-106 brachytherapy of large peripheral retinal capillary hemangiomas.

DESIGN

A retrospective case series.

PARTICIPANTS

In 25 eyes of 24 patients, peripheral capillary retinal hemangiomas were treated.

INTERVENTION

Brachytherapy using 106-ruthenium/106-rhodium plaques was performed.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Eyes were reviewed for hemangioma regression after brachytherapy, occurrence of retinal detachment, requirement of additional vitreoretinal surgery, final visual outcome, and final retinal status.

RESULTS

Preoperative mean visual acuity of all eyes treated was 20/60, mean hemangioma diameter was 3.8 mm, corresponding to approximately 2 disc diameters. In 14 eyes, the retina was attached before surgery, 8 eyes showed an exudative detachment, and 3 eyes showed a traction detachment. Fifteen patients had definite von Hippel-Lindau syndrome. Twenty-three of 25 hemangiomas could be destroyed by single brachytherapy. In 16 eyes, a favorable outcome could be achieved. In nine eyes, outcome was unfavorable, characterized by a severe drop in visual acuity, a persisting exudative retinal detachment, or a recurrent traction detachment. In one eye requiring repeated brachytherapy, irradiation retinopathy occurred. Hemangiomas up to a size of approximately 5.0 mm without preoperative exudative detachment could be treated safely by brachytherapy, whereas a larger hemangioma size or a pre-existing exudative retinal detachment predisposed to an unfavorable outcome.

CONCLUSION

Solitary peripheral retinal hemangioma can be ablated effectively by ruthenium-106 brachytherapy. A favorable outcome can be expected if the hemangioma diameter is 5.0 mm or smaller and if there is no preoperative exudative retinal detachment.