Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 29, 2026
Author Spotlight: Overcoming Anti-VEGF Resistance Through Advanced Vascular Morphology Assessment in Choroidal Neovascularization
Published on: August 11, 2023
Retinal cavernous hemangioma: fifty-two years of clinical follow-up with clinicopathologic correlation
Jerry A Shields1, Ralph C Eagle, Madeleine Q Ewing
1*Ocular Oncology Service, Wills Eye Hospital, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; †Department of Pathology, Wills Eye Hospital, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and ‡Department of Ophthalmology, Pennsylvania Hospital, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Insights
A rare retinal cavernous hemangioma, a congenital vascular tumor, can cause recurrent intraocular bleeding, leading to glaucoma, pain, and blindness. This case highlights the importance of considering this condition in childhood hyphema and vitreous hemorrhage diagnoses.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Vascular Biology
- Histopathology
Background:
- Retinal cavernous hemangiomas are rare, congenital vascular malformations.
- They are typically stationary but can present with recurrent intraocular hemorrhages.
Purpose:
To report long-term follow-up and histopathology of a retinal cavernous hemangioma and to review the literature on this subject.
Methods:
A newborn girl was noted immediately after birth to a have hyphema and vitreous hemorrhage in her left eye. The bleeding recurred throughout childhood and the etiology was not determined. Upon referral at age 22, a large retinal cavernous hemangioma was first recognized and recurrent hemorrhages continued, eventually leading to pain and secondary glaucoma. The patient declined treatment. At age 52, the hemangioma was stable in size, but ocular pain and blindness necessitated enucleation.
Results:
During the 52-year course, the fundus mass did not enlarge, but numerous episodes of hyphema and vitreous hemorrhage led to chronic glaucoma and eventual blindness. The main histopathologic finding in the disorganized globe was a retinal mass composed of large endothelial-lined vascular channels with thin walls, typical of a retinal cavernous hemangioma. The tumor extended anteriorly into the ciliary body, explaining the recurrent hyphemas. Additional chronic features included extensive fibrosis of the entire anterior segment, iris, and retina with proliferative vitreoretinopathy and widespread intraocular hemosiderosis from chronic hemorrhage. The patient has been free of pain since enucleation.
Conclusion:
Retinal cavernous hemangioma is a congenital stationary lesion that can cause recurrent intraocular hemorrhage, fibrosis, glaucoma, pain, and blindness, requiring enucleation. Retinal cavernous should be included in the differential diagnosis of childhood hyphema and vitreous hemorrhage.
