Bilateral exudative retinal detachment in a case of paraganglioma

Abstract

Bilateral exudative retinal detachment due to extra-adrenal pheochromocytomas in a pediatric age group has been rarely reported. We report a case of a 12-year-old female child with exudative retinal detachment and hypertensive retinopathy changes secondary to hypertensive emergency due to extra-adrenal pheochromocytoma. The patient presented with sudden painless diminution of vision in both eyes since 15 days. Fundus examination showed exudative retinal detachment with Grade 4 hypertensive retinochoroidopathy changes. Supine blood pressure of 190/140 mm of Hg was recorded. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) of the abdomen revealed a heterogeneously enhancing right para-aortic mass likely representing extra-adrenal pheochromocytoma. Hypertensive ocular damage represents target organ damage in humans with systemic arterial hypertension. Fundus examination is a rapid and low cost modality for detecting previously existing and new onset vascular damage. Prompt recognition and timely referral of such cases have prodigious implications for both ocular and general health of a person.

Keywords

• Hypertensive choroidopathy
• paraganglioma
• serous retinal detachment