Optical coherence tomography of retinal astrocytic hamartoma in 15 cases

Abstract

Objective: To describe the features of retinal astrocytic hamartoma using optical coherence tomography (OCT).

Design: Retrospective, observational, noncomparative case series.

Participants: Fifteen consecutive eyes from 14 patients with retinal astrocytic hamartoma.

Main outcome measures: Optical coherence tomography characteristics of the tumor.

Results: The mean patient age at OCT was 33 years, and tuberous sclerosis was present in 3 patients (21%). By ophthalmoscopy, the mean basal diameter of the tumor was 3.6 mm. By OCT, the tumor showed hyperreflectivity at its surface, internal retinal disorganization, and a gradual gently sloping transition from a normal retina into a tumorous retina in all 15 cases (100%). By OCT, the retinal disorganization was limited to the inner retina in 3 (20%), outer retina in 0 (0%), full retina in 5 (33%), and inner retina with no view of deeper layers due to shadowing in 7 (47%). On OCT, there was mild retinal traction on the surface of the tumor in 4 (27%), discrete internal moth-eaten optically empty spaces representing intralesional calcification or intratumoral cavities in 10 (67%), and optical shadowing posterior to the tumor in 14 (93%). Other retinal findings on OCT included shallow elevation of the adjacent retina in 2 (13%), adjacent retinal edema in 4 (27%), and macular edema in 3 (20%).

Conclusions: Retinal astrocytic hamartoma shows characteristic features on OCT, including a gradual transition from a normal retina into an optically hyperreflective mass with retinal disorganization, characteristic moth-eaten spaces, and posterior shadowing.