Choroidal neovascularization related to melanocytic naevus – a single centre study

Abstract

Purpose: To assess the angiographic and optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) features as well as the natural course of the choroidal neovascularization (CNV) associated with choroidal naevi.
 Setting/venue: Ocular Oncology Service, Department of Ophthalmology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences.
 Material and methods: Retrospective chart analysis of the patients who presented to the Ocular Oncology Service in Poznan, Poland between 2011–2021 with the diagnosis of suspicious choroidal naevus. In all patients full ophthalmic examination and multimodal imaging, including fundus photography, autofluorescence, B-ultrasound, optical coherence tomography (OCT), OCT angiography (OCTA) and fluorescein angiography (FAF), were performed.
 Results: There were 9 lesions in 9 patients, 9 women aged 14–79 years (mean age: 58.2 years). All the lesions were located in the posterior pole and most of them were pigmented (88.9%). CNVs associated with choroidal naevi were type I in 66.7% and type II in 33.3% of cases. 5 patients required treatment: anti-VEGF injection (alone or with transpupillary thermotherapy) was administered. The median follow-up was 24 months (range: 2–145). In two of all treated patients (40%), we observed BCVA gain (2–4 lines), in one patient (20%) it remained stable and in two (40%) it deteriorated. The final visual acuity was below 0.1 only in 1 patient. During the period of observation none of the lesions progressed to uveal melanoma.
 Conclusions: CNV associated with choroidal naevus could be the reason for subretinal fluid (SRF) leakage and visual loss. The response to anti-VEGF treatment is satisfactory in the majority of patients. Choroidal naevi with accompanying CNV have none or very low malignant transformation potential.