Retinal Hemorrhages – Growing Differential Diagnosis

Retinal hemorrhage and pediatric brain injury: etiology and review of the literature

Henry E. Aryan MD

Division of Neurosurgery, University of California, San Diego, California

Faris R. Ghosheh MD

Rahul Jandial MD

Department of Neurosurgery, Children’s Hospital, San Diego, California

Michael L. Levy MD, PhD

Department of Ophthalmology, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland, USA

Received 14 October 2004;

Accepted 13 May 2005.

Available online 20 August 2005

Summary

Retinal hemorrhages have long been linked with child abuse and, in particular, the “shaken baby/shaking-impact” syndrome. However, the presence of retinal hemorrhages is neither necessary nor sufficient for the diagnosis of child abuse. Additionally, retinal hemorrhages are also associated with an ever-expanding list of conditions, each of which carries important implications for patients and their families. To correctly interpret a patient’s retinal hemorrhages, the physician requires a broad knowledge base, including of child abuse, the “shaken baby/shaking-impact” syndrome, the differential diagnosis of retinal hemorrhages and the types of retinal hemorrhage and their diagnostic implications. We review the literature regarding types of retinal hemorrhage and their associated etiologies.

Source

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6WHP-4GXD4YC-2&_user=10&_coverDate=08%2F31%2F2005&_rdoc=1&_fmt=high&_orig=search&_sort=d&_docanchor=&view=c&_searchStrId=1346997962&_rerunOrigin=google&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=45390a19ee1c466fe98dd8c81580752a