Image features of retinal astrocytic hamartoma in a patient with tuberous sclerosis complex

Abstract

Purpose: To describe the image features of retinal astrocytic hamartoma in a 35-year-old male patient with tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC).

Methods: Fundus photography, fundus autofluorescence (FAF), fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA), and spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) were performed for this retinal astrocytic hamartoma.

Results: Fundus photography showed that the retinal astrocytic hamartoma presented as a well-circumscribed, mulberry-like lesion consisting of glistening yellowish spherules of calcification. FAF demonstrated dense hyper-autofluorescence spots corresponding to retinal astrocytic hamartoma. FFA revealed leakage from dilated retinal capillaries over the hamartoma. SD-OCT indicated moth-eaten optically empty spaces and hyperreflective dots within the lesion. The lesion surface was fluctuate.

Conclusion: FAF is a useful imaging modality for obtaining greater contrast between a retinal astrocytic hamartoma and the surrounding retina due to hyper-autofluorescence of calcification in the lesion. FFA is beneficial for monitoring the abnormal blood vessels in these lesions. SD-OCT is capable of visualization the structural details, such as the uneven surface and inner hyperreflective dots.