This site uses tracking information. Visit our privacy policy. Click to agree to this policy and not see this again.

Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences

Combined Hamartoma of the Retina and RPE, Peri-Papillary

Combined Hamartoma of the Retina and RPE, Peri-Papillary

Category(ies): Retina, Vitreous, Trauma
Contributors: Eric Chin MD, H. Culver Boldt MD
Photographer: Brice Critser, CRA

A 29-year-old male was referred to our clinic because of chronic disc edema in the left eye, since at least 9 months prior. He has had decreased vision in the affected left eye since about four years prior, with gradual worsening over the years. He works as an electrician, and had a history of "severe electrical shock" in 2010 which caused him to faint. He has very occasional pain in the right eye that last for 5-10 minutes, and a superotemporal scotoma in the left eye. There is no family history of any eye diseases, and he has no other complaints.

  • Visual acuity
    • OD 20/20 sc
    • OS 20/60 sc, 20/40 sc ph
  • IOP: OD 17, OS 19
  • SLE: trace NS OU, otherwise unremarkable
fundus
Image 1. OS: Epiretinal membrane centered just inferonasal to the disc with surface distortion of retinal vessels. Membrane is pigmented. Underlying RPE hyperpigmented surrounding the nasal portion of the disc. Striae from this complex extend thru foveal center.
oct
Image 2. OS: OCT, peripapillary ERM with striae and distortion extending thru fovea. Optic nerve head is elevated with high reflective internal reflectivity and mild surrounding retinal edema.
oct
Image 3. OS: OCT, peripapillary ERM with striae and distortion extending thru fovea. Optic nerve head is elevated with high reflective internal reflectivity and mild surrounding retinal edema.
echo
Image 4. OS: OCT, peripapillary ERM with striae and distortion extending thru fovea. Optic nerve head is elevated with high reflective internal reflectivity and mild surrounding retinal edema.
echo
Image 5. OS: OCT, peripapillary ERM with striae and distortion extending thru fovea. Optic nerve head is elevated with high reflective internal reflectivity and mild surrounding retinal edema.
echo
Image 6. OS: OCT, peripapillary ERM with striae and distortion extending thru fovea. Optic nerve head is elevated with high reflective internal reflectivity and mild surrounding retinal edema.
A-scan
Image 7. OS: OCT, peripapillary ERM with striae and distortion extending thru fovea. Optic nerve head is elevated with high reflective internal reflectivity and mild surrounding retinal edema.
A-scan
Image 8. OD: Full field. -- OS: I2e is constricted. There is a disc related absolute scotoma superiorly.
Summary:

Peripapillary Combined Hamartoma of the Retina and Retinal Pigment Epithelium

The lesion is most highly consistent with a peripapillary combined hamartoma of the retina and retinal pigment epithelium OS. The lesion distorts the fovea and the peripapillary retina. There is severe contraction of the membrane at the inferonasal edge of the disc with focal areas of axoplasmic flow stasis that probably represent damage to the nerve fiber layer in this area and explain the superotemporal visual field defect.

This is a benign tumor that can affect vision. The epiretinal membrane will continue to contract and cause more vision loss. Vitrectomy and membranectomy has sometimes improved vision, but the epiretinal membranes tend to be tightly adherent and the prognosis for vision improvement is probably less than that for a typical epiretinal membrane.

Combined hamartomas can be associated with neurofibromatosis (NF) type 2 and in one case report, with NF type 1. This has potential implications for family genetic counseling.