Photodynamic therapy reduces SRF in symptomatic choroidal nevus

Photodynamic therapy reduces subretinal fluid (SRF) in patients with symptomatic choroidal nevus with serous macular detachment, according to a study featured in the journal Retina.

Dr Jose García-Arumí et al., Ophthalmology Department, Institute of Ocular Microsurgery, Barcelona, Spain, included 17 patients in the study. The retrospective review involved the evaluation of the medical records of all participants who underwent photodynamic therapy (PDT) for symptomatic choroidal nevus with SRF.

Mean final visual acuity improved to 20/60, subretinal fluid was reduced in all eyes and wasn't present at all in nine eyes. Out of the nine patients who didn't have subretinal fluid, 2 patients showed a recurrence.

The mean final tumour thickness increased to 1.24 mm after a mean follow-up time of 22.47 months. Tumour thickness increased in three eyes, stayed the same in 13 eyes and one lesion in one eye was reduced to a flat, chorioretinal scar.

Photodynamic therapy is an efficient treatment option for reducing SRF in symptomatic choroidal nevus with serous macular detachment. However, melanoma was found in 18% of patients, suggesting that PDT does not control tumours.