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Review
. 2014 Sep;14(3):763-8.
doi: 10.4314/ahs.v14i3.37.

Coats' disease in Tanzania: first case report and literature review

Belson Rugwizangoga, Theresia Mwabili, Trishia Scanlan, Peter Meyer, James Kitinya
Review

Coats' disease in Tanzania: first case report and literature review

Belson Rugwizangoga et al. Afr Health Sci. 2014 Sep.

Abstract

Background: Coats' disease is an exudative retinal detachment with vascular telangiectasis occurring mostly in male children, the age group most affected by retinoblastoma.

Objectives: Compare the differential diagnoses of Coats' disease Establish recommendation to early disease detection.

Materials and methods: A 3-year-old female child was referred to Muhimbili National Hospital (MNH), Tanzania, in September 2011. She had presented at the peripheral hospital with gradual onset of left eye leukocoria for 1 year and pain for 2 months. B-scan showed a mass in the left eye. A clinical diagnosis of retinoblastoma was made. Left eye enucleation was performed; the patient was referred to MNH, with the enucleated specimen.

Results: Brain and orbits scan revealed no residual tumour. The globe measured 2 x 1.8 cm, the optic nerve stump measured 3 mm. A whitish mass filled the vitreous, with complete retinal detachment. Microscopy showed retinal gliosis, detachment with sub retinal PAS positive exudates, vacuolation and cholesterol clefts. Foreign body giant cells were present; telangiectatic thin-walled blood vessels were identified. Clinico-pathological findings were of stage 4 Coats' disease.

Conclusion: Coats' disease is an important differential diagnosis of retinoblastoma. Delay to detect Coats' disease leads to vision loss which necessitates eye enucleation as was in this child.

Keywords: Coats' disease; Tanzania.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Morphological findings in our reported case of Coats' disease. A: Gross cut section of the eyeball, showing a whitish mass filling the vitreous.
B
B
Eyeball whole mount showed retinal detachment with sub retinal exudates, Haematoxylin and Eosin (H&E) stain.
C
C
Retinal serous vacuolation with cholesterol clefts (H&E, x 100).
D
D
Sub retinal exudate and retinal vacuolated foci were PAS positive (PAS, X 400).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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