The follow-up observation on the therapeutic effect of photodynamic therapy for the juxtapapillary retinal capillary hemangioma: a case report

BACKGROUND: The present study reported a case of juxtapapillary retinal capillary hemangioma (JRCH) that was successfully treated by two sessions of full-fluence photodynamic treatment (PDT) with good visual outcome. CASE PRESENTATION: A 19-year-old male patient presented progressive deterioration of the vision of right eye due to the presence of exudative macular detachment associated with JRCH. The best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) had decreased from 1.0 to 0.02. The JRCH was treated with two sessions of full-fluence PDT at an interval of 3 months. After the first PDT, the subfoveal fluid was reduced, albeit not completely disappeared. After the second PDT, the subfoveal fluid was successfully displaced. At the 1.5-year follow-up examination, no subfoveal fluid was observed at the macula, and VA improved from a pretherapy level of 0.02–0.8 at 18 months post-treatment. CONCLUSION: Resolution of the exudative macular detachment, reduction in papillomacular area fluid, and reduction in the size of the JRCH were observed during the follow-up period. No severe adverse events were observed. Therefore, PDT is potential candidate treatment for relieving exudative macular detachment and recovering VA and reduction in the size of the JRCH.