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Bilateral persistent hyperplastic primary vitreous
D A Sanghvi1, C A Sanghvi, N C Purandare
1Department of Radiology, Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai, India. darshanasanghvi1@hotmail.com
Insights
Bilateral persistent hyperplastic primary vitreous (PHPV) is a rare condition causing leukokoria in infants. Ocular ultrasound can help diagnose this rare cause of bilateral leukokoria.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Pediatric Ophthalmology
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Persistent hyperplastic primary vitreous (PHPV) is a congenital developmental anomaly of the eye.
- It typically presents unilaterally and is sporadic, making bilateral cases exceptionally rare.
Observation:
- A 5-month-old infant presented with bilateral leukokoria, prompting referral for ocular ultrasound.
- Ultrasound revealed an echogenic band with blood flow in the left eye and an elevated echogenic mass in the right eye, both connected to the optic disc.
Findings:
- The imaging findings were consistent with bilateral persistent hyperplastic primary vitreous (PHPV).
- Bilateral PHPV is rare, accounting for only 2.4% of cases in one study.
Implications:
- This case highlights the importance of considering bilateral PHPV in the differential diagnosis of bilateral leukokoria.
- Ocular ultrasound is a valuable tool for diagnosing PHPV and differentiating it from other conditions like retinoblastoma.
Abstract:
We report a case of bilateral persistent hyperplastic primary vitreous (PHPV) in a 5-month-old infant who presented with bilateral leukokoria. The child was referred for ocular ultrasound with a clinical suspicion of retinoblastoma. Grey-scale evaluation revealed an echogenic band in the posterior segment of the left globe extending from the posterior surface of the lens capsule to the optic disc. Doppler examination revealed the presence of blood flow in the band. Ultrasound assessment of the contralateral globe showed an elevated mass of echogenic tissue in the posterior segment, in contact with the optic disc. Most cases of PHPV are sporadic and unilateral. Bilateral PHPV is rare. In a study by Pollard of 83 cases, only two patients (2.4%) had bilateral PHPV. The imaging features in this case point toward the diagnosis of bilateral PHPV. We suggest that this entity, although rare, should be considered in the differential diagnosis while evaluating bilateral leukokoria.
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