[Hypertrophy of retinal pigment epithelium--epidemiology, clinical characteristics and differential diagnosis]

The aim of the study is to show the clinical features of hypertrophy of the retinal pigment epithelium. The authors have studied five own cases (all women, mean age 42 years). All patients had a complete ophthalmological examination including fluorescein angiography (the follow-up time was 6 to 12 months). They also had general medical examination to find the possible association with intestinal polyposis with probable malignant transformation (Gardner's syndrome). Although hypertrophy of the retinal pigment epithelium is so far a benign lesion, the patients should be checked up every year. All hyperpigmented lesions of the ocular fundus are serious for clinicians because of the suspicion of their malignancies.