Multimodal Imaging in Purtscher Retinopathy

PURTSCHER-LIKE RETINOPATHY AND PARACENTRAL ACUTE MIDDLE MACULOPATHY CAUSED BY INDUSTRIAL SILICONE EMBOLISM

PURPOSE

This article describes a rare occurrence of acute vision loss in a healthy young patient after a cosmetic procedure.

METHODS

Findings on clinical examination, color fundus photography, and swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography.

RESULTS

A previously healthy 26-year-old male-to-female transsexual presented with dyspnea, fever, and hypoxemia 1 day after cosmetic injection of industrial silicone for buttock augmentation. The patient reported decreased vision on the right eye 4 days later and decreased vision on the left eye 5 days later. Fundus examination revealed bilateral retinal precapillary occlusion, demonstrating intraretinal hemorrhages, cotton wool spots, and Purtscher flecks within the posterior pole of both eyes. Optical coherence tomography angiography revealed capillary ischemia and an enlarged foveal avascular zone.

CONCLUSION

Swept-source optical coherence tomography is a valuable tool for evaluation of Purtscher-like retinopathy and paracentral acute middle maculopathy.

Purtscher-like retinopathy presented a honeycomb-like pattern in optical coherence topography angiography

Background

To report a case of Purtscher-like retinopathy (PUR) and the optical coherence tomography (OCT) and OCT angiography (OCT-A) findings before and after treatment.

Case presentation

A 65-year-old male presented with acute onset of vision loss for 2 weeks. Fundus examination revealed cotton-wool spots, retinal haemorrhage, and Purtscher flecken spread around the optic disc in the right eye. He was diagnosed with Purtscher-like retinopathy because he lacked any traumatic medical history. OCT presented some band-like hyperreflective lesions at the inner nuclear layer, which are indicative of paracentral acute middle maculopathy (PAMM). OCT-A revealed apparent reduction in blood flow signal at the deep retina and choriocapillaris layers with a honeycomb-like hypointense signal pattern. After 3 months of follow-up, OCT revealed resolution of retinal oedema, but PAMM lesions remained visible. Based on OCT-A, the honeycomb-like pattern turned into a homogeneous reduction in blood flow with small patches of hypointense signal areas in the choriocapillaris.

Conclusion

This case presented a new OCT-A sign in PUR with a honeycomb-like hypointense signal at the choriocapillaris layer, indicating the involvement and ischaemia of the choroid during the pathological process.

Electric shock induced Purtscher-like retinopathy

The most common ocular manifestation following electric shock injury is the development of cataract. Retinal manifestations can vary from development of macular holes to retinal detachments. Purtscher-like retinopathy following electrical injury has not been reported till date. We hereby present a case of a 19-year-old electrician who presented with grossly reduced vision in the right eye of 2 months following an electric shock. The fundus of the right eye showed macular ischemic degeneration, occluded vessels, cotton-wool spots, and hemorrhages. Optical coherence tomography angiography revealed presence of capillary drop-out in the para-foveal region, which was more pronounced in the deep capillary plexus. Electric shock injury can lead to a clinical picture simulating Purtscher's retinopathy. The electrical injury leads to a more extensive damage to the deep capillary plexus as compared with the superficial plexus.