Indocyanine green angiographic findings of a diffuse choroidal hemangioma in a patient with Sturge-Weber syndrome [Indozyaningrunangiographie bei einem diffusen Aderhauthamangiom in Rahmen des Sturge-Weber-Syndroms]

The Sturge-Weber syndrome is a nonfamilial hamartomatous disease characterized by ipsilateral angiomatous malformation involving the brain, face and the uveal tract. We report on a 20 year-old male with a right-sided facial nevus flammeus and a homolateral diffuse choroidal hemangioma. In the early phase of the indocyanine green angiography the cavernous vessels of the hemangioma were seen as vascular channels, which filled simultaneously with the retinal vessels. Normal choroidal vasculature was obscured by the tumour. After 45 seconds the vascular channels of the tumour were filled and produced a homogenous and intense fluorescence. In the late phase of the angiogram the dye had washed out and only some focal hyperfluorescent points were seen in the extravasal spaces. Although the choroidal hemangioma is diagnosed in most cases by ophthalmoscopy and more traditional studies, the indocyanine green angiographic findings can help us in some cases to differentiate choroidal hemangioma from other choroidal tumours.