Retinal astrocytic hamartoma in tuberous sclerosis complex in an elderly person: a case report

BACKGROUND: Spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) is proposed as a way of predicting the development and likelihood of retinal astrocytic hamartoma (RAH) in tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) in elderly patients. CASE PRESENTATION: This report describes a case of RAH in TSC in an elderly patient. The patient was a 62-year-old woman and experienced pain in the lower left abdomen for two years. Bilateral renal angiomyolipoma, multiple hepatic angiomyolipoma and multiple pulmonary nodules were demonstrated using computed tomography (CT). Brain CT showed bilateral multiple calcification near by the cella lateralis. A clinical diagnosis of TSC was made. Visual acuity (decimal) in the right and left eye was determined to be 0.6 and 0.8, respectively. SD-OCT revealed a retinal tumour in the inner layer of the retina in the right fundus and a pre-retinal membrane which may have evolved later. CONCLUSIONS: A routine ophthalmic examination is advised for patients suspected of having TSC to prevent this condition from being overlooked. In addition, an OCT examination can be used to predict the development and likelihood of RAH.