Neurosensory retinal detachment secondary to torpedo maculopathy

Type 1 and type 2 torpedo maculopathy

PURPOSE

To analyze torpedo maculopathy (TM) and to report the characteristics of the disease.

METHODS

Retrospective study. The review of a database for clinical diagnosis identified eight patients with TM lesions in the retina between 2016 and 2022. Multimodal imaging was used to analyze the cases.

RESULTS

All cases were unilateral, asymptomatic, and hypopigmented. They were associated by surrounding hyperpigmented retinal pigment epithelium changes to varying degrees. All lesions were located in the temporal retina on the horizontal axis, pointing towards the fovea, except for one patient with a lesion inferior to the fovea. Optical coherence tomography imaging revealed a normal inner retina in all eyes. In the area of the TM lesion, attenuation of the interdigitation zone was seen in mild cases (three cases). All other five patients had thinning of the outer nuclear layer and loss of ellipsoid zone and interdigitation zone of the TM lesion. Four of these cases had a subretinal cavitation/cleft, and two of them additionally an inner choroidal excavation. No patient had any sign of choroidal neovascularization. The average age for patients with type 1 TM was 18 years and for type 2 TM 16.5 years.

CONCLUSION

In this large case series, we could not detect an age difference between the different types of the TM. Contrary to previous discussions, type 2 TM can also occur in young patients.

CASE OF TORPEDO MACULOPATHY WITH TWO DISTINCT ZONES OF THE RETINAL PIGMENT EPITHELIUM

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE

To report a case of torpedo maculopathy with two distinct zones of the retinal pigment epithelium visualized on optical coherence tomography.

METHODS

Observational case report.

RESULTS

A 6-year-old female presented for a routine examination. Visual acuity was 20/20 bilaterally. Dilated fundus examination was normal in the right eye. Dilated fundus examination of the left eye showed a wedge-shaped area of hypopigmentation in the temporal macula. Optical coherence tomography macula of the left eye showed outer retinal cavitation with segmentation of the foveal retinal pigment epithelium into a superficial fluffy zone and a deeper hyperreflective zone.

CONCLUSION

This case helps contribute to the growing body of the torpedo maculopathy literature that may reveal different stages of the same disease evolving over time.

Multimodal Imaging of Torpedo Maculopathy With Fluorescence Adaptive Optics Imaging of Individual Retinal Pigmented Epithelial Cells

Torpedo maculopathy (TM) is a rare congenital defect of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). The RPE is often evaluated clinically using fundus autofluorescence (AF), a technique that visualizes RPE structure at the tissue level from the intrinsic AF of RPE fluorophores. TM lesions typically emit little or no AF, but this macroscopic assessment is unable to resolve the RPE cells, leaving the organization of the RPE cell mosaic in TM unknown. We used fluorescence adaptive optics scanning laser ophthalmoscopy (AOSLO) to show here for the first time the microscopic cellular-level structural alterations to the RPE cell mosaic in TM that underlie the tissue-level changes seen in conventional clinical imaging. We evaluated two patients with TM using conventional clinical imaging techniques and adaptive optics (AO) infrared autofluorescence (IRAF) in AOSLO. Confocal AOSLO revealed relatively normal cones outside the TM lesion but altered cone appearance within it and along its margins in both patients. We quantified cone topography and RPE cell morphometry from the fovea to the margin of the lesion in case 1 and found cone density to be within the normal range across the locations imaged. However, RPE morphometric analysis revealed disrupted RPE cells outside the margin of the lesion; the mean RPE cell area was greater than two standard deviations above the normative range up to approximately 1.5 mm from the lesion margin. Similar morphometric changes were seen to individual RPE cells in case 2. Multi-modal imaging with AOSLO reveals that RPE cells are abnormal in TM well beyond the margins of the characteristic TM lesion boundary defined with conventional clinical imaging. Since the TM fovea appears to be fully formed, with normal cone packing, it is possible that the congenital RPE defect in TM occurs relatively late in retinal development. This work demonstrates how cellular level imaging of the RPE can provide new insight into RPE pathologies, particularly for rare conditions such as TM.

Choroidal Cavitary Disorders

The structure and functions of the choroid have been long acknowledged but the pathophysiology behind various anomalies has been difficult to understand until the advent of optical coherence tomography (OCT). With OCT imaging, choroidal cavitations appear as optically empty spaces between the outer retinal and choroidal layers with attenuation or loss of outer retinal layers. Choroidal cavitations are found in the posterior pole and seen in conditions such as pathologic myopia, north carolina macular dystrophy (NCMD), focal choroidal excavation (FCE), and torpedo maculopathy (TM). To date, these disorders have not been linked. A commonality they all share is malformation of the RPE-photoreceptor-choroid complex. The following report describes the differences and similarities of choroidal cavitation amongst the different retinal disorders and emphasizes the importance of multimodal imaging in the detection and management of potential complications.

Torpedo maculopathy: A case series - insights into basic pathology

Torpedo maculopathy is a benign retinal disorder whose pathophysiological origins are currently poorly understood. A number of theories have been postulated, with stable developmental anomalies of the retinal pigment epithelium taking the forefront. Four clinical cases are outlined of patients with macular torpedo lesions, with differing clinical presentation. In all four cases, this reveals very thin retinal pigment epithelium and outer retina associated with the lesion. In a single case, the oldest patient of the group, there is the additional finding of subretinal and intraretinal fluid accumulation. The contrast between this case and the other cases suggests that while initially this benign pathology might start with structurally normal retina with no fluid accumulation, dysgenetic changes in the retinal pigment epithelium might lead to secondary accumulation of fluid over time. Whether indeed this disorder might be progressive in nature, or whether in fact it is a static, non-progressive developmental abnormality as formerly thought, requires further elucidation.

Distribution patterns of torpedo maculopathy: Further evidence of a congenital retinal nerve fiber layer-driven etiology

With fewer than 100 peer-reviewed cases reported in the world to date, the underlying etiology of torpedo maculopathy has remained elusive. In this literature review, we provide new evidence to better support, reject and unify claims regarding cause, diagnosis, and proper clinical management of this disease. We reviewed 44 case reports and case series, which included 77 patients (after exclusions). We additionally introduced 3 new cases from our clinical practice for a total of 80 cases. Ages at presentation ranged from 6 months old to 73 years old (mean: 24.2 years old). The nasal aspects of torpedo maculopathy lesions pointed toward the optic disc and localized to a kite-shaped region of the temporal macula, correlating with the anatomic junction of the superior arcuate, inferior arcuate, and papillomacular bundles of retinal nerve fiber layer distribution. No patterns were observed among the temporal aspects of the lesions. These findings support a congenital etiology of torpedo maculopathy and a possible influence of the retinal nerve fiber layer in the development of mature retinal pigment epithelium.

Multimodal imaging of torpedo maculopathy in a Chinese woman: a case report

Background

Torpedo maculopathy is a rare, benign, and congenital macular lesion that typically appears in a ‘torpedo-shape’ and is located at the temporal macula region. This study aimed to describe in detail regarding torpedo maculopathy in a Chinese woman using multimodal imaging.

Case presentation

A 30-year-old Chinese woman with occasional yellowish-white macular lesions in her right eye during a routine examination was presented to our hospital. She had no other symptoms, and the best-corrected visual acuity of both eyes was 6/6. Funduscopic examination revealed a torpedo-shaped and mild hypopigmented lesion in the temporal macular area of her right eye. Infrared fundal (IR) images showed visible lesion contour, transverse elliptical, and with a tip pointing towards the central fovea of the macula. Microperimetry visual field appeared normal. The spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) showed a normal inner retina, with mild thinner outer retina and retinal pigment epithelium in the temporal macular area, and correspondingly increased choroidal reflectivity. Other OCT findings included outer retinal loss/attenuation with significant atrophy of an intact ellipsoid zone. OCT angiography (OCTA) of choroid capillary layer revealed increased density of choroidal vasculature in corresponding to the area of the lesion, while the superficial and deep layers revealed normal vasculature. Fundus autofluorescence (FAF) revealed normal signal with slight hyperautofluorescence at the nasal lesion margin. Fundus fluorescence angiography (FFA) of the lesion showed variegated fluorescence and no leakage and change in the morphology during the whole imaging process.

Conclusions

This is the first report to include a thorough and detailed description of torpedo maculopathy by using fundal photograph, IR, microperimetry visual field, OCT, OCTA, FAF, and FFA. Multimodal imaging provides precious and detailed information to further clarify the characteristics and development of this rare disease.

Multimodal imaging of torpedo-shaped fundus lesions: New insights

The purpose of this case series is to describe the varied presentation of Torpedo lesions of the fundus and multimodal imaging features in three eyes of three patients. Two patients presented with typical topography, i.e., temporal to the fovea. One patient revealed lesion inferonasal to disc with the head pointing toward the disc. All three patients had an attenuation of outer retinal layers on optical coherence tomography. One patient showed an additional large subretinal cleft. Variable hypoautofluorescence in the area of the torpedo was noted. To conclude torpedo lesions can present at atypical locations, have both retinal and choroidal atrophy and head point toward the optic disc.

Torpedo maculopathy with multifocal central serous chorioretinopathy: A rare case report

We present a very rare case of torpedo maculopathy (TM) with multifocal central serous chorioretinopathy. A 26-year-old male presented with painless loss of vision in the right eye of 2 months duration. Clinical examination showed a torpedo-shaped lesion temporal to fovea and subretinal fluid in foveal center. Fluorescein angiography showed multifocal leaks. Optical coherence tomography showed an optically clear space/neurosensory detachment at the site of lesion. Patient underwent focal laser to the leaks. TM is a rare congenital disorder detected accidentally during routine fundus examination. It is usually unilateral and does not affect vision.

[Torpedo macu-lopathy (clinical case)]

The article presents a clinical case of torpedo maculopathy. This congenital disorder is most likely to be caused by changes in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) during retinal fissure closure. Visual function is usually unaffected and the condition is revealed at routine ophthalmic examination in children and teens. Optical coherence tomography showed the absence of RPE, photoreceptor damage, and massive thinning of the outer nuclear layer at the diseased site without a significant change in the total retinal thickness. RPE involvement was also evidenced by changes in fundus autofluorescence.

Torpedo Maculopathy in a 6-Month-Old Infant: Early Clinical and Optical Coherence Tomography Findings

A 6-month-old male infant presented for routine ophthalmologic examination. Indirect ophthalmoscopy revealed a flat, oval, hypopigmented lesion located in the temporal macula in the right eye with the tip pointing toward the fovea, which was compatible with torpedo maculopathy. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) was performed at the time of diagnosis. OCT scans of the lesion revealed slight retinal pigment epithelium hyperreflectivity. This case serves as the earliest OCT finding of the youngest patient diagnosed as having torpedo maculopathy in the literature. [J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus. 2017;54:e54-e57.].

Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography and fundus autofluorescence evaluation of torpedo maculopathy

The authors describe the spectral-domain optical coherence tomography and fundus autofluorescence findings in a case of torpedo maculopathy. Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography revealed loss or disruption of the retinal pigment epithelium and overlying disruption of the outer neurosensory retina. Fundus autofluorescence revealed reduced fundus autofluorescence of the lesion surrounded by a rim of increased fundus autofluorescence.