Pars plana vitrectomy with intraoperative optical coherence tomography for sub-internal limiting membrane fibrosis excision in a child with Terson syndrome: Surgical and pathological correlation

Abstract

Purpose: To report the intraoperative optical coherence tomography (OCT)-guided surgery of a consolidated sub-internal limiting membrane (ILM) hemorrhage that developed into a sub-ILM fibrotic membrane in a child with a history of Terson syndrome. Observations: A one year-old boy with a history of Terson syndrome due to a motor vehicle accident presented three months after trauma with a white feather-shaped membrane in the left macula. Preoperative OCT showed a preretinal hyperreflective tissue at the foveal center. The patient underwent pars plana vitrectomy. After separation of the posterior hyaloid, intraoperative OCT did not show any change in structural components. After peeling the ILM, the fibrotic membrane persisted. A bent 30-gauged needle was used to create a plane of dissection in the adherent sub-ILM membrane, which was then peeled with ILM forceps without complication. Post-operative OCT confirmed complete excision without evidence of macular edema. Pathology results indicated presence of fibrocellular tissue that contained hemosiderin, consistent with old organized hemorrhage as a component of the membrane. Conclusion and importance: Sub-ILM hemorrhage may persist as a tautly adherent fibrotic membrane that can mimic the appearance of an epiretinal membrane or a chronic subhyaloidal hemorrhage during examination, especially in young children. Intraoperative OCT may aid in select complex macular surgery cases to better delineate the planes of dissection during sub-ILM fibrosis excision. Keywords: Sub-internal limiting membrane hemorrhage, Sub-internal limiting membrane fibrosis, Terson syndrome, Retinal hemorrhage, Vitrectomy, Optical coherence tomography