[Vasoproliferative tumor associated with presumed ocular tuberculosis: case report]

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Medical Case Reports
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• Secondary vasoproliferative tumors (SPT) are retinal glial proliferations often associated with various ocular conditions affecting the retina and choroid.
• Ocular tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease that can manifest in various forms within the eye.
• The association between vasoproliferative tumors and ocular TB has not been previously reported in medical literature.

Observation:

• A 42-year-old female presented with blurred vision and inflammation, diagnosed with a vasoproliferative tumor and presumed ocular tuberculosis.
• Ocular examination revealed a vascularized lesion with serous retinal detachment and retinal pigment epithelium hyperplasia.
• The patient had a positive purified protein derivative (PPD) test, confirming tuberculosis.

Findings:

• The patient was treated with anti-TB medication (rifampicin, isoniazid, pyridoxine), cryotherapy, and intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide (4 mg/ml).
• After 30 days, imaging showed reduced serous detachment and tumor atrophy.
• Fluorescein angiography demonstrated vascular hyperfluorescence with extravasation and blocked fluorescence due to RPE hyperplasia.

Implications:

• This case introduces a potential new therapeutic strategy for secondary vasoproliferative tumors associated with ocular tuberculosis.
• Combined cryotherapy and intravitreal triamcinolone may be an effective treatment for this rare condition.
• Further research is needed to validate the efficacy and long-term outcomes of this combined treatment approach.