[Multiple vitelliform retinal cysts. Case report and review of the literature]

Description of a patient with multiple vitelliform retinal cysts, including the fovea, with normal EOG and no indications of hereditary origin. The changes were apparent as hypofluorescent zones in the angiogram. After three years an increase in size and partial confluence of the cysts was observed, but two years later cicatrization occurred in the previously cystic areas. So far 30 persons with multiple vitelliform cysts have been described in the literature; the principal findings in these cases are summarized in a table together with the present authors' findings. As regards heredity, two groups may be distinguished: (1) multiple cysts associated with Best's vitelliform dystrophy and (2) so-called isolated cases with no indication of heredity. All Group 1 cases seen so far have had a pathologic EOG, while in Group 2 cases the EOG may be both normal and pathologic. The average age of Group 1 patients is 31, that of Group 2 patients 39 years. The findings in Group 2 cannot be intepreted without reservation as adult or degenerative changes. Multiple vitelliform cysts must be clearly distinguished from multiple pigment epithelium detachments.