Neurosensory retinal detachment secondary to torpedo maculopathy

Abstract 

Background

Torpedo maculopathy has been characterized as a congenital retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) nevus.

Case

A 38-year-old black woman presented with a chief complaint of intermittent floating spots in the right eye of 7 months' duration. Dilated fundoscopy found a “torpedo-shaped” lesion, with the tip of the lesion pointing toward the temporal macula. Visual field testing found a paracentral nasal defect, and optical coherence tomography (OCT) found a sensory retinal detachment.

Conclusion

This lesion was unique because of the visibly detectable alterations seen in the photoreceptor layer of the retina and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) in the setting of what was confirmed as a neurosensory retinal detachment. Torpedo maculopathy, although benign, may be visually devastating if its neurosensory etiopatholgy involves the macula. Even so, it rarely requires intervention.

Keywords: Torpedo maculopathy, Congenital RPE nevus, Paramacular coloboma, Retinal albinotic spot, Neurosensory retinal detachment, Optical coherence tomography (OCT)