P B Knecht1, M M Bosch, H Helbig. 1. Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland. pascalknecht@gmx.ch
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The racemose - or arteriovenous - haemangioma of the retina is a rare developmental anomaly. It can be associated with similar vascular anomalies in other regions of the central nervous system (Wyburn-Mason syndrome). HISTORY AND SIGNS: We report a 24-year-old woman with a chronic headache from our outpatient clinic. Other than a white tortuous strand in the retina of the right eye, which resembled a filarium at first glance, no pathologies were found. Its ends were located at the optic disc forming a sling-shaped lesion extending to the anterior nasal periphery. Partial filling was shown by fluorescence angiography. An MRI of the neurocranium detected no additional vascular abnormalities. THERAPY AND OUTCOME: So far our patient has not suffered from any visual complaints and she will be followed up yearly. CONCLUSIONS: We show an unusual presentation of a retinal racemose haemangioma. Diagnosis of this entity should prompt further examinations to exclude any additional haemangiomas with respect to the Wyburn-Mason syndrome.
BACKGROUND: The racemose - or arteriovenous - haemangioma of the retina is a rare developmental anomaly. It can be associated with similar vascular anomalies in other regions of the central nervous system (Wyburn-Mason syndrome). HISTORY AND SIGNS: We report a 24-year-old woman with a chronic headache from our outpatient clinic. Other than a white tortuous strand in the retina of the right eye, which resembled a filarium at first glance, no pathologies were found. Its ends were located at the optic disc forming a sling-shaped lesion extending to the anterior nasal periphery. Partial filling was shown by fluorescence angiography. An MRI of the neurocranium detected no additional vascular abnormalities. THERAPY AND OUTCOME: So far our patient has not suffered from any visual complaints and she will be followed up yearly. CONCLUSIONS: We show an unusual presentation of a retinal racemose haemangioma. Diagnosis of this entity should prompt further examinations to exclude any additional haemangiomas with respect to the Wyburn-Mason syndrome.