Clinical-pathological correlation in massive periretinal proliferation

Abstract

In the owl monkey, proliferation of pigment epithelial and glial cells occurred in varying degrees in nearly all eyes with retinal detachments. These cells grew and formed membranes on all available intraocular structures in the posterior part of the eye, such as vitreous structures and inner and outer retinal surfaces. Clinically, this process covered a wide variety of lesions, including fixed retinal folds. Depending on the location, size, and extent of the pigment epithelial or glial membrane, different types of fixed folds occurred. In an exaggerated end stage of this proliferative process, a clinical picture may develop identical to what has been called massive vitreous retraction or massive preretinal retraction in humans. To emphasize the importance and ubiquity of cellular proliferations, we called this entity massive periretinal proliferation.