Scanning electron microscopy of the ocular vasculature in retinopathy of prematurity
A. W. Fryczkowski, R. L. Peiffer, J. C. Merritt, E. N. Kraybill and D. E. Eifrig
Clinicoanatomopathologic correlations in a case of the retinopathy of
prematurity are reported. A premature infant delivered at 28 weeks of
gestation (weight, 900 g) was hospitalized for a number of health problems,
including bronchopulmonary dysplasia and respiratory distress syndrome.
Ophthalmic examination, at the age of 5 months, disclosed stage 1B
retinopathy of prematurity. The patient died at the age of 161 days; both
eyes were taken for scanning electron microscopy and histopathologic
studies. Scanning electron microscopy findings included absence of retinal
capillaries, anterior uveal neovascularization originating from the venous
side, and a coincidental typical coloboma of the optic nerve and
choriocapillaris. Histopathologic findings confirmed iris stromal
neovascularization, showed retinal neovascularization with proliferation
into the vitreous and avascular areas between the midperiphery and ora
serrata.
