Value of Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography Imaging in Diagnosis and Treatment of Hemangioblastomas in von Hippel-Lindau Disease

Abstract

Background and objective: The introduction of optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) provides new insights into the retinal vasculature. The aim of this study was to explore the value of OCTA in imaging retinal hemangioblastomas and monitoring laser treatment in patients with von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) disease.

Patients and methods: Ten eyes of 10 patients with VHL disease were included in this retrospective case series. All patients underwent complete ophthalmological work-up including OCTA for retinal and optic nerve head hemangioblastoma.

Results: Two patients showed retinal scars and no recurrence of hemangioblastoma in OCTA. Three patients revealed recurrent hemangioblastomas. Two patients demonstrated a new hemangioblastoma. Three patients showed hemangioblastomas of the optic nerve head. Successful laser photocoagulation could be monitored with OCTA.

Conclusions: Screening for retinal hemangioblastomas with OCTA alone is not possible. OCTA may help to distinguish hemangioblastomas and other lesions in VHL disease, especially after treatment and allows the differentiation from harmless non-vascular lesions in questionable cases. [Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina. 2016;47:935-946.].