ABSTRACT

To report two cases of vasoproliferative retinal tumor, which is rare, newly described and important in the differential diagnosis of amelanotic intraocular tumors. We evaluated the right eye of a 43-year-old female (Case 1), and the left eye of a 40-year-old male (Case 2), who were diagnosed to have malignant melanoma of the choroid. On ophthalmological examination, the best corrected visual acuity of the affected eyes were counting fingers at 1 metre and 0.3, respectively (Case 1, Case 2). On fundoscopy, orange-red mass in the temporal retina with subretinal hemorrhages, surrounded by exudates, and shallow exudative retinal detachment were observed in the two cases, as well as diffuse exudation and retinal edema extending to the fovea. The diagnosis of vasoproliferative retinal tumor was established in the two patients who had history of eye trauma; one session of cryotherapy was performed to both. One month after cryotherapy, the lesions were smaller, and the best corrected visual acuity increased to 0.9 and 0.7, respectively (Case 1, Case 2). During a follow-up time of 18 (Case 1) and 10 (Case 2) months, no recurrence was observed. Vasoproliferative tumor of the retina demonstrates a clinic similar to that of amelanotic intraocular tumors, such as choroidal malignant melanoma and metastatic tumors of the choroid. The characteristic features of this rare tumor are orange-red color and accompanying exudations. Although most of them are idiopathic, uveitis and rarely trauma history might be positive. Due to its benign and treatable nature, it should be kept in mind in the differential diagnosis of malignant amelanotic intraocular tumors.