Retinal findings in children with intracranial hemorrhage
Susan Schloff1, Paul B Mullaney, Derek C Armstrong
1Department of Ophthalmology, The Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Insights
Terson's syndrome is rare in children with intracranial hemorrhage from non-abuse causes. This study found a maximal incidence of 8% for intraretinal hemorrhage in pediatric patients.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Pediatric Neurology
- Trauma Care
Background:
- Terson's syndrome, characterized by intraretinal or vitreous hemorrhage, is associated with intracranial hemorrhage.
- The incidence of Terson's syndrome in pediatric populations, particularly from non-traumatic intracranial events, requires further elucidation.
Observation:
- A prospective, observational case series included 57 children with intracranial hemorrhage from non-abuse etiologies.
- Fundus examinations were performed to detect retinal abnormalities.
Findings:
- Only two patients (3.5%) exhibited retinal hemorrhages; one had a single dot hemorrhage with infectious lesions, and the other had multiple intraretinal hemorrhages post-motor vehicle accident.
- The incidence of intraretinal hemorrhage in this cohort was 1.5%, with a maximal estimated incidence of 8% for non-abuse intracranial hemorrhage in children.
Implications:
- Retinal hemorrhages are infrequent in pediatric intracranial hemorrhage cases not caused by abuse or shaken baby syndrome.
- These findings suggest that Terson's syndrome is uncommon in children experiencing intracranial bleeding from non-accidental trauma, aiding in differential diagnosis.
Purpose:
To identify the incidence of Terson's syndrome in children.
Design:
Prospective, observational case series.
Participants:
Fifty-seven consecutive children with known intracranial hemorrhage from nonabuse causes.
Methods:
Dilated fundus examination to detect intraretinal hemorrhages or other abnormalities.
Main Outcome Measures:
Presence or absence of intraretinal hemorrhages or other abnormalities.
Results:
Fifty-five patients (96%) had no evidence of intraretinal or vitreous hemorrhage. Two patients had abnormal retinal examinations. One patient had a single dot hemorrhage associated with presumed infectious white retinal lesions. The second patient had three flame and two deeper dot intraretinal hemorrhages after a motor vehicle accident (1.5% incidence of retinal hemorrhage).
Conclusions:
Retinal hemorrhage is uncommon in children with intracranial hemorrhage not resulting from shaken baby syndrome. The maximal incidence of intraretinal hemorrhage in children with nonabuse intracranial hemorrhage is 8%.
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