Inflammatory choroidal neovascular membrane after healed tuberculous choroidal granuloma

Abstract

Objective: To present a case of choroidal granuloma masquerading as intraocular tumor that healed on anti-tuberculous treatment but led to the development of inflammatory choroidal neovascular membrane (CNVM).Method: A 42-year-old female patient with past history of hysterectomy presented with diminution of vision in the right eye. Fundus examination in the right eye showed a yellowish white choroidal mass with associated bullous retinal detachment superotemporal to fovea. Left eye fundus was normal. Fundus flourescein angiography showed early and late hyperflourescence with late pooling in serous detachments. Complete systemic evaluation did not yield a clue to diagnosis. Positron emission tomography scan (PET scan) showed enlarged lymph nodes in cervical, mediastinal and peritoneal regions. Lymph node biopsy showed caseating granulomas.Results: The granuloma subsided and a scar formed 5 months after starting anti-tuberculous treatment with improvement in vision. Six months later, the vision deteriorated again with the development of a choroidal neovascular membrane (CNVM) at the margin of the scar. The CNVM resolved and all the signs of activity subsided after giving intravitreal antivascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) injections.Conclusions: Making a diagnosis of tuberculous granuloma in a case of choroidal mass lesion is a challenge. PET scan helps in identifying metabolically active lymph nodes appropriate for biopsy. Healed scars of tuberculous choroid lesions should be followed closely to detect the development of CNVM.

Keywords

• tuberculosis
• choroidal granuloma
• exudative retinal detachment
• CNVM
• bevacizumab