Cancer-associated retinopathy with presumed vasculitis

Abstract

Purpose: To treat a 63-year-old woman who experienced fairly rapid vision loss in association with small-cell carcinoma of the lung.

Methods: She underwent a full ophthalmologic examination, including fluorescein angiography and an immunologic study by Western blot analysis.

Results: Fluorescein angiography demonstrated diffuse staining of the retinal vessels. She had 62-kd antiretinal antibody in her serum. Cancer-associated retinopathy was diagnosed.

Conclusion: The staining seen on the angiogram appears to indicate vasculitis, which would cause the characteristic attenuation of retinal vessels in this disease.