REPAIR OF COMBINED TRACTION-RHEGMATOGENOUS RETINAL DETACHMENT AFTER CRYOABLATION OF A RETINAL CAPILLARY HEMANGIOBLASTOMA

PURPOSE: To describe a case of surgical repair of a total, combined traction-rhegmatogenous, retinal detachment with proliferative vitreoretinopathy after cryoablation of a retinal capillary hemangioblastoma. METHODS: A case of a 47-year-old man presenting with a solitary, superotemporal retinal capillary hemangioblastoma in the right eye with serous retinal detachment and subfoveal fluid and exudates is reported. The hemangioblastoma was treated with cryoablation, but despite regression of the lesion, the patient developed a total combined traction-rhegmatogenous retinal detachment 6 weeks later. Vitrectomy, endolaser photocoagulation to tears adjacent to the original hemangioblastoma lesion, and silicone oil exchange was performed to repair the detachment. RESULTS: Eighteen months after initial repair, the patient had silicone oil removal and cataract extraction with lens implantation. Final visual acuity improved from counting fingers to 20/50 with total retinal reattachment and regression of the retinal capillary hemangioblastoma. CONCLUSION: Although uncommon, combined traction-rhegmatogenous retinal detachment can occur after cryoablation of a retinal capillary hemangioblastoma.