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Talc retinopathy presenting as multiple retinal arteriolar occlusions.
Ryan Tarantola1, David Reichstein, David Morrison
1From the Vanderbilt Eye Institute, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee.
Retinal Cases & Brief Reports
|November 13, 2014
Summary
Intravenous drug use can lead to talc retinopathy, causing bilateral retinal arteriolar occlusions. A patent foramen ovale facilitated talc particle circulation, leading to this rare condition.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Cardiology
- Radiology
Background:
- Talc retinopathy is a rare condition.
- Intravenous drug use is a known cause of systemic talcosis.
- Patent foramen ovale can lead to paradoxical embolism.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report a case of bilateral retinal arteriolar occlusions.
- To describe the role of talc and patent foramen ovale in the pathogenesis.
- To highlight diagnostic findings in a patient with intravenous drug use.
Main Methods:
- Case presentation of a 24-year-old woman with visual symptoms.
- Diagnostic imaging including transesophageal echocardiogram and chest CT angiogram.
- Histopathological analysis of lung biopsy.
Main Results:
- Bilateral retinal arteriolar occlusions with visible foreign material.
- Patent foramen ovale identified.
- Lung biopsy confirmed foreign body giant cell reaction to talc.
Conclusions:
- This is the second reported case of talc causing arteriolar occlusions.
- Findings demonstrate characteristic lung CT and histopathologic features of systemic talcosis.
- Patent foramen ovale played a crucial role in the systemic dissemination of talc.
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