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Choroidal Hemangioma
  Choroidal Hemangioma
 Signs, symptoms, indicators
 


Hemangiomas can grow within the blood vessel layer beneath the retina called the choroid. If they are located in the macula (center of vision) or they leak fluid which causes a retinal detachment or cystic changes in the retina, these changes can affect vision. Many choroidal hemangiomas never grow or leak fluid and may be observed without treatment. Choroidal hemangiomas are not cancers and never metastasize. Most choroidal hemangiomas are reddish to orange in appearance. Some have areas of increased pigmentation which can make them difficult to differentiate from choroidal melanomas.

Diagnosis & Tests

Fluorescein angiography is used by eye-care specialists to perform studies of the blood vessels in the eye. A vegetable dye called fluorescein is injected into the arm and travels to blood vessels inside the eye. If a tumor is present, it is possible to detect specific characteristics of its circulation which can help differentiate between it and other types of tumor. Choroidal hemangiomas have a unique pattern of circulation where the large blood vessels produce a "coarse vascular pattern."

Ultrasound can also be used to examine the inside of the eye. Choroidal hemangiomas are made up of relatively large and well-formed blood vessels. Each one of those blood vessels can reflect sound waves producing characteristically intense reflections from within the tumor.

Treatment & Prevention
Most circumscribed choroidal hemangiomas can be photographed and followed for evidence of growth or leakage prior to treatment. If they are documented to be growing into the center of vision or are causing a retinal detachment or angle-closure glaucoma, they can be treated in an effort to preserve vision.

Scatter laser photocoagulation has been used to decrease the amount of fluid leaking out of choroidal hemangiomas. Unfortunately most patients have recurrent problems (retinal detachment, cystoid retinal degeneration) after this treatment and suffer loss of vision.

More recently, relatively low doses of external beam irradiation have been used to treat leaking choroidal hemangiomas. Though these reports have been limited case series, this approach is promising in that radiation treats the entire tumor.





Signs, symptoms & indicators of Choroidal Hemangioma:
Symptoms - Head - Eyes/Ocular  Eyes bulge not from hyperthyroidism


KEY
Weak or unproven link


GLOSSARY

Hemangiomas (Hemangioma)
Benign tumors of blood vessels. They are rather common, are often present at birth, and can affect the skin or internal organs. They sometimes disappear without treatment.

Metastasize (Metastases, Metastasized, Metastasizes, Metastasizing, Metastatic)
Usually in reference to cancer: to spread, especially destructively.

Retina (Retinal)
A 10-layered, frail nervous tissue membrane of the eye, parallel with the optic nerve. It receives images of outer objects and carries sight signals through the optic nerve to the brain.

Ultrasound
Ultrasound testing uses sound waves projected into the body to produce an image of internal organs, structures, tumors, etc. In this procedure, a gel is applied to the patient's skin, and a small device that emits ultrasonic pulses is slowly passed over the area. The sonic image produced is viewed on a monitor.

Vascular
Relating to the blood vessels of the body. The blood vessels of the body, as a group, are referred to as the vascular system. They are composed of arteries, veins and capillaries - arteries that pass oxygen-rich blood to the tissues of the body; veins which return oxygen-depleted blood from the tissues to the lungs for oxygen; and the capillaries that are the tiniest vessels and are between the arteries and veins.




Last updated: Nov 14, 2009
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