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Klin Monbl Augenheilkd 2015; 232(4): 558-559
DOI: 10.1055/s-0035-1545805
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Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Two Case Reports of Torpedo Maculopathy

Zwei Fälle von Torpedo Makulopathie
K. Schuerch
Augenheilkunde, Inselspital, Bern, Switzerland
,
A. Ebneter
Augenheilkunde, Inselspital, Bern, Switzerland
,
M. Zinkernagel
Augenheilkunde, Inselspital, Bern, Switzerland
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Publication Date:
22 April 2015 (online)

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Introduction

Torpedo maculopathy was first described as a hypopigmented nevus of the macula by Gass et all [1]. Later on, it was called a retinal albinotic spot of the macula or paramacular coloboma [2], [3]. The term torpedo maculopathy was first introduced in 1993 by Daily MJ at the New Dimension in Retina Symposium. As the finding is very rare, only few case reports and case series exist. It presents usually as an incidental finding. There are different speculations about its etiology. The general consent is, that it might be a congenital lesion of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) [3], [4]. Considering the ellipsoid, torpedo like shape of the lesion a congenital malformation of the RPE during the closure of the retinal raphe was proposed [3]. The lesion has been considered as benign, because reports of possible progression are rare [5]. In all cases, a hypopgimented lesion in the temporal macula in an ellipsoid shape could be found. The OCT shows a heterogenic picture as a decreased thickness of the retina, absent or hypotrophic RPE [6]. Fundus autofluorescence (short-wavelength autofluorescence, SW-AF) may also be heterogeneous, varying from normal fluorescence except for a small hyperfluorescence at the tail of the lesion to a hypofluorescent area [2], [4], [7]. The near infrared autofluorescence (NIR-AF) was reported to be a hypofluorescent area corresponding to the lesion, thus suggesting deficient melanin deposition in the RPE [4]. Torpedo maculopathy is found in different age groups with only little variation of the shape or the size of the hypopigmented area, therefore the finding is considered as benign and nonprogressive [7]. We will present here two cases from our clinic.