Vitreoretinal Surgery and Panretinal Photocoagulation in a Patient with Multiple Large Retinal Capillary Hemangiomas (von Hippel-Lindau Disease): A Novel Approach

The authors present a novel surgical approach for the treatment of retinal capillary hemangiomas (RCHs) secondary to von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) disease. This is a case report of a 23-year-old male patient with VHL that presented with multiple large RCHs and a thick epiretinal membrane (ERM) in his left eye, with best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) of 20/80. This condition was surgically addressed with 23-gauge pars plana vitrectomy, ERM and internal limiting membrane peeling, and panretinal photocoagulation. Three monthly intravitreal injections of bevacizumab were administered after surgery. In a 14-month follow-up period, hemangiomas have regressed after laser therapy, macular anatomy has improved, retina remained completely attached, and there has been no development of new tumors or proliferative vitreoretinopathy. The patient achieved a BCVA of 20/40 in the treated eye. Panretinal photocoagulation combined with pars plana vitrectomy may be useful to reduce development of new capillary hemangiomas and reduce overall occurrence of complications in patients with VHL disease. Postoperative intravitreal injections of bevacizumab may have a role in this positive outcome.