An Unusual Case of Hyperpigmented Torpedo Maculopathy

    


    


    Figure 5: Colour Fundus Photo and OCT of the left eye indicating a normal fundus and normal macula.

    

Based on this clinical picture, supported by imaging, a diagnosis of TM was made. Given the small propensity for TM to develop CNV [4], the lesion has been monitored and has thus far remained stable with no change in vision.

Discussion

A rare entity, TM is usually asymptomatic and identified incidentally on routine fundal examination [5]. As a result, the condition may be significantly under-reported and consequently, its prevalence underestimated. The aetiology of TM remains elusive, but several theories have been proposed including developmental defects of the retinal nerve fibre layer at the level of the horizontal raphe [6], developmental defects of the RPE at the foetal temporal bulge [7] and developmental defects of the choroid and its vasculature [2]. While none of these theories have been conclusively proven, advances in imaging technology have allowed researchers to gain a finer understanding of the morphological features of these lesions, improving our understanding of the aetiology of TM and clinical diagnostic potential.

Diagnosing TM with non-classic clinical features, as in this case, requires the clinician to employ a holistic approach combining the symptomatology, clinical findings and imaging modalities.

Symptomatology

Most patients are asymptomatic with normal visual acuity as the fovea itself remains unaffected. However, perimetry and microperimetry may indicate reduced sensitivity and a scotoma corresponding to the site of the lesion. Moreover, visual function may be affected in a small subset of patients where the lesion impinges on the fovea or if the lesion progresses and produces CNV [4]. In this case, the patient was frankly asymptomatic and had perfect visual acuity. However, in the absence of microperimetry or perimetry, it is difficult to conclude if the patient had a scotoma corresponding to the area of the lesion.

Clinical Findings

Clinically, TM lesions have a hallmark appearance. It is classically described as an ellipsoid, flat, hypopigmented RPE lesion with distinct margins. They are about two and one disc diameters in size horizontally and vertically respectively. According to most cases reported in literature, TM lesions are hypopigmented and located in the temporal macula with its apex directed towards the central macula [1-3]. They are usually unilateral, although bilateral cases and satellite lesions temporal to the main lesion have been reported as well [4,8]. In this case, while the lesion shared many of these clinical characteristics, it was hyperpigmented and located superior to the macula. While there are several differential diagnoses that could be considered such as congenital toxoplasmosis, Congenital Hypertrophy of the Retinal Pigment Epithelium (CHRPE) or chorioretinal scars, multi-modal imaging helped establish a diagnosis of TM.

Diagnostic Imaging

Through the use of OCT Wong et al. classified TM lesions into two types; Type 1 lesions are characterised by attenuation of the outer retinal structures while Type 2 lesions are characterised by attenuation and excavation of the outer retinal structures with neurosensory elevation [9]. Wong et al suggested that these two distinct subtypes represented different stages in the evolution of TM lesions over several decades wherein Type 1 lesions have an average age of presentation at 17 years while type 2 lesions have an average age of presentation at 39 years [9]. On the contrary, Shirley et al. identified several cases of younger patients with type 2 lesions and therefore, suggested that the two distinct subtypes of TM lesions represented different phenotypic expressions of TM lesions rather than different stages in the evolution of TM lesions [10].

On fundus autofluorescence, TM lesions exhibit hypo-autofluorescence with a surrounding cuff of hyper-autofluorescence [11]. The hypo-autofluorescence exhibited by the lesion corresponds to atrophic RPE while the cuff of hyper-autofluorescence indicates the accumulation of lipofuscin inside retinal pigment epithelial cells [9]. These findings are corroborated on OCT which indicates attenuation of the RPE with loss of the photoreceptor layer and hyper-reflectivity of the RPE and choroid [9,12]. Additionally, type 2 lesions are also characterised by excavation of the outer RPE with a shallow subretinal cleft which is thought to represent the loss of the RPE and photoreceptors within the TM lesion [12]. This may be accompanied by thinning of the neurosensory retina [12]. In this case, the lesion exhibited hypo-autofluorescence with surrounding hyper-autofluorescence. Moreover, the OCT in this case indicated atrophy of the outer retinal structures including a disrupted ellipsoid, outer nuclear and outer plexiform zones with an overlying subretinal cleft consistent with a type 2 TM lesion.

While most patients remain asymptomatic with stable lesion appearance and are therefore discharged from follow-up, a small minority may progress to develop CNV. Indeed, a research group in Switzerland reported a case of CNV related to TM [4] while Shirley et al. reported one such case in a 15-year- old patient who had become visually symptomatic [10]. In the latter example, FFA helped identify the active CNV membrane and the patient responded well to a single dose of Ranibizumab. However, Shirley et al. concluded that the long-term prognosis in these cases remains unclear [10]. In this case, FFA showed no signs of leakage. Nevertheless, due to the remote possibility of CNV and the resulting visual consequences, patients must be counselled accordingly.

Advances in Ocular Coherence Tomography Angiography (OCTA) may not only help eliminate the need for the more invasive FFA to identify CNV associated with TM lesions, but it may also aid in understanding of its pathogenesis. Papastefanou et al. demonstrated that OCTA indicated hypo-reflectivity and reduced flow corresponding to the region of the subretinal cleft as well as an adjacent area of hyper-reflectivity corresponding to the tail of the lesion [12]. Furthermore, abnormal development of the choroid and its vasculature have been proposed as a possible cause for TM lesions [2] but further research is required to determine if this is the primary event or associated with its progression.

Conclusion

TM remains a rare and poorly understood entity and, therefore, may pose a diagnostic challenge for clinicians. However, its classic clinical appearance can be supported by imaging modalities, enabling clinicians to distinguish them from similar lesions. Indeed, in this case report, while the clinical picture was not entirely typical of TM lesions reported in literature, multi-modal imaging helped to definitively establish the diagnosis. Furthermore, given the small propensity of TM lesions to progress to CNV, it is essential that clinicians rule out CNV at presentation with FFA or OCTA. Some clinicians have advocated for annual to semi-annual monitoring with more frequent monitoring recommended for larger lesions or the presence of pigment clumping as these may render the patient more susceptible to developing CNV [13,14]. However, the patient can also monitor their vision with the Amsler grid at home. [13,14]

References

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