Circumscribed choroidal haemangioma: clinical and topographical features

Abstract

AIMS: To characterise the clinical and topographical features of circumscribed choroidal haemangioma (CCH) and to visualise the patterns of tumour extent in the ocular fundus. METHODS: Data on the size, shape and location of 113 CCH were converted into a database of two-dimensional retinal charts by means of computer drawing software. The extent of the tumours was visualised by merging the charts and displaying the number of overlapping tumours on colour-coded maps. RESULTS: The mean largest tumour diameter was 7.2 mm (range, 2.5-11.0 mm), mean tumour height was 2.4 mm (range, 0.7-4.6 mm) and mean diameter/height ratio was 3.2 (range, 2.1-6.0). The mean distance from the posterior tumour margin to the foveola and optic disc margin was 1.7 mm (range, 0-15 mm) and 2.4 mm (range, 0-11 mm), respectively. The hemispheric location of the tumour centroid was temporal in 75 eyes (66%) and nasal in 38 (34%) (p=0.0005) and the distribution between the superior and inferior hemispheres was 68 (60%) and 45 (40%), respectively (p=0.03). The presence of subretinal fluid (SRF) was significantly associated with young age at diagnosis (p=0.0002), low tumour diameter/height ratio (p=0.0004), nasal hemisphere location (p=0.006) and close proximity to the optic disc (p=0.004). CONCLUSIONS: The superotemporal quadrant close to the macula is the most frequent location of CCH. The tumours are generally characterised by a diameter/height ratio of >2. Tumours in young patients, with marked elevation, in nasal hemisphere and in proximity to the optic disc are associated with SRF exudation.