Clinicopathologic findings in Best vitelliform macular dystrophy

Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol. 2011 May;249(5):745-51. doi: 10.1007/s00417-010-1587-3. Epub 2010 Dec 7.

Abstract

Purpose: To correlate the clinical and histopathologic features of Best vitelliform macular dystrophy (BVMD).

Methods: Two eyes were obtained postmortem from a patient with BVMD. The patient's clinical information was reviewed. Series sections of the globes were performed and sequentially stained with hematoxylin-eosin, periodic acid-Schiff or Masson trichrome. A section of the left macula was submitted for electron microscopic processing. Histopathologic findings were reconstructed in a scaled two-dimensional map and compared with fundus photography, fundus autofluorescence (FAF), fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) images.

Results: The macular lesion of the right eye was identified as a well-demarcated region with pigment, elevated submacular yellow material and subretinal fluid. This corresponded histopathologically to a well-circumscribed area of RPE hyperplasia, accumulation of lipofuscin in the RPE, deposition of granular material in the photoreceptors, macrophages and drusen. The left eye displayed a 1 disc diameter chorioretinal scar with surrounding shallow fluid and submacular pigment. This corresponded to RPE changes and a fibrocellular proliferation in the choriocapillaris.

Conclusion: Histopathologic mapping revealed retinal edema, RPE abnormalities, drusen and a chorioretinal scar in BVMD that correlated with the fundus, FFA, FAF and OCT findings.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Female
  • Fluorescein Angiography
  • Humans
  • Hyperplasia
  • Image Processing, Computer-Assisted
  • Macula Lutea / ultrastructure
  • Male
  • Papilledema / diagnosis
  • Pedigree
  • Retinal Drusen / diagnosis
  • Retinal Pigment Epithelium / pathology
  • Subretinal Fluid
  • Tomography, Optical Coherence
  • Visual Acuity
  • Vitelliform Macular Dystrophy / pathology*