Retinal Reactive Astrocytic Tumor (Focal Nodular Gliosis): The Entity Also Known as Vasoproliferative Tumor

CLINICOPATHOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF SECONDARY RETINAL VASOPROLIFERATIVE TUMOR/REACTIVE RETINAL ASTROCYTIC TUMOR SUCCESSFULLY TREATED BY ENDORESECTION

PURPOSE

To report the clinicopathological findings of retinal vasoproliferative tumor/reactive retinal astrocytic tumor (VPT/RRAT) with retinal vasculitis, treated by tumor resection.

METHODS

A retrospective single case report.

PATIENT

A 29-year-old Japanese woman was referred with cystoid macular edema and retinal vasculitis in the right eye. Best-corrected visual acuity was 0.9. Results of fundus examination, optical coherence tomography, and fluorescein angiography demonstrated VPT/RRATs in the temporal retina surrounded by a subretinal exudate, serous retinal detachment and macular edema, and retinal vasculitis. Despite 3 months of oral prednisolone treatment, a full-thickness macular hole developed. Pars plana vitrectomy and endoresection of the VPT/RRATs were performed. Pathologic and immunohistochemical analyses with anti-CD34 antibody, antiglial fibrillary acidic protein antibody, anti-Ki67 antibody, and anti-vascular endothelial growth factor antibody were performed on the excised tissue. Inflammation was evaluated by immunohistological staining with leukocyte common antigen (LCA), anti-CD3 antibody, and anti-CD20 antibody.

RESULTS

After surgery, the macular hole closed, best-corrected visual acuity improved to 1.2, retinal vasculitis was ameliorated, and retinal exudate disappeared. There was no recurrence of VPT/RRAT or retinal vasculitis. Pathologic examination showed that antiglial fibrillary acidic protein and anti-vascular endothelial growth factor were widely expressed, irrespective of the distribution of blood vessels. Ki67-positive proliferating cells were detected in the perivascular area. Leukocyte common antigen-positive leukocytes and CD3-positive T cells were detected throughout the samples, whereas CD20-positive B cells were rarely detected.

CONCLUSION

Endoresection of VPT/RRAT could be a good treatment option for secondary VPT/RRAT accompanied by retinal vasculitis. Pathologic findings revealed for the first time that inflammatory cells infiltrate the tissue in secondary VPT/RRAT.

Focal reactive nodular gliosis: an extremely rare retinal astrocytic tumor

Focal reactive nodular gliosis (FRNG) is an extremely rare benign retinal reactive astrocytic tumor that results from the proliferation of well-differentiated glial cells secondary to a variety of retinal conditions. We describe a case of this tumor in a 64-year-old male in association with a chorioretinal scar he has had since childhood. The symptom was sudden painful vision loss. In the clinical examination, iris rubeosis, posterior synechiae, cataract, vitreous haze and a suspected fundus mass were showed. B-scan ultrasonography demonstrated a retinal mass consistent with choroidal melanoma. The magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a well-circumscribed mass with T1 hyperintensity and T2 hypointensity. Enucleation was performed and histopathologic and immunohistochemical studies confirmed the diagnosis of FRNG.

SURGICAL OUTCOMES OF PARS PLANA VITRECTOMY FOR INTRAOCULAR COMPLICATIONS RELATED TO VASOPROLIFERATIVE TUMOR OF THE RETINA

PURPOSE

To investigate the safety and efficacy of vitrectomy pars plana vitrectomy in managing intraocular complications relating to vasoproliferative tumors of the retina (VPL).

METHODS

Retrospective study. 17 patients with VPL who underwent vitrectomy at Sheffield Teaching Hospital NHS Trust from 2005 to 2020 were included. Patient demographics, clinical characteristics, intraoperative data, and surgical outcomes were collected and evaluated.

RESULTS

The mean age was 52 years. Indications for pars plana vitrectomy included epiretinal membrane (n = 7), vitreous hemorrhage (n = 5), retinal detachment (n = 3), diagnostic (n = 1), and others (n = 1). After pars plana vitrectomy, 14/17 (82.4%) have stabilized vision and 3/17 (17.6%) deteriorated. Subgroup analysis of epiretinal membrane peel had good outcomes with 6/7 (85.7%) noticing improvement or stabilization of symptoms and mean logarithm of minimal angle of resolution visual acuity improved from 0.719 [6/30] ± 0.267 [6/12] to 0.476 [6/19] ± 0.271 [6/12]. Patients undergoing surgery for vitreous hemorrhage also had good outcomes with resolution (and no recurrence) of the hemorrhage in 3/5 (60%) and 5/5 (100%) with one or more surgeries, respectively. Outcomes for retinal detachment surgery were logarithm of minimal angle of resolution 2.126 [HM] ± 0.301 [6/12] preoperatively and 1.185 [6/95] ± 0.522 [6/19] postoperatively, with one recurrence of retinal detachment. In the epiretinal membrane group, three patients had adjunctive treatment for VPL intraoperatively and four patients had none, and no difference found between the two groups in outcome or complications. Tumor with thickness of ≥2 mm exhibited inferior visual outcomes compared with <2 mm ( P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

This is one of the largest data sets in looking at outcomes of vitrectomy for complications of VPL. Pars plana vitrectomy is effective and safe in managing VPL-related intraocular complications with good outcomes and a low rate of complications, especially for patients with epiretinal membrane and vitreous hemorrhage.

Robotic-assisted radiosurgery for the treatment of vasoproliferative tumours

PURPOSE

Vasoproliferative tumours (VPT) are a rare but benign entity that can lead to severe visual acuity deterioration. There is no standard of care, and depending on the degree of clinical features, including tumour size and dissemination, visual acuity and subretinal fluid, treatment options include observation, cryotherapy and brachytherapy. Particularly in larger tumours, brachytherapy has advantages over other options, although higher radiation doses and the need for surgical application are disadvantages of this otherwise effective treatment option. CyberKnife radiosurgery might represent an alternative therapeutic option as no surgical intervention is needed and radiation doses are lower.

METHODS

All patients diagnosed with vasoproliferative tumors who were treated with CyberKnife radiosurgery with a minimum follow-up time of 12 months were included in this case series. We recorded visual acuity, number of lesions, central retinal thickness with optical coherence tomography (OCT) and reflectivity using A-scan standardizes echography every three months.

RESULTS

A total of four patients with a median age of 34 years (range: 24 - 51) who were observed over an average of 26.5 months (range: 17 - 49 months) matched our inclusion criteria. We appreciated stabilization or increase in visual acuity in all four patients and a regression in tumour thickness with subsequent increase in internal reflectivity as a marker of increasing fibrosis.

CONCLUSION

We observed good visual and functional outcome following CyberKnife therapy for VPT. We believe that further studies should be pursued to evaluate CyberKnife therapy for the treatment of VPT not treatable with cryo- or lasertherapy.

Orbital tumor associated with a microphthalmic eye and colobomatous cleft: Pilocytic astrocytoma (glioma) or massive retinal gliosis

A 11-year-old boy with congenital microphthalmos of the right eye presented with gradual protrusion of his ocular prosthesis. MRI showed an orbital mass adjacent to the microphthalmic eye. After removal of the eye and the orbital soft tissue mass a gliotic mass, resembling a pilocytic astrocytoma WHO grade 1 (glioma) was diagnosed. Through a colobomatous cleft in the eye the tumour spread in the orbit. There were no clinical signs of neurofibromatosis 1. This case showed a very rare association between a microphthalmic and colobomatous eye and pilocytic astrocytoma, grade 1. However a far advanced and infiltrative massive retinal gliosis cannot be definitively excluded as differential diagnosis.