A case of Terson syndrome and its mechanism of bleeding

Multilayered macular hemorrhages as an unusual complication of transorbital neuroendoscopic surgery

Purpose

To report a case of multilayered intraocular hemorrhage at the posterior pole as a complication of transorbital neuroendoscopic surgery.

Observations

Our patient underwent an uncomplicated endoscopic transorbital resection of a left sphenoid wing meningioma. In the immediate post-operative period, the patient reported blurred vision of her left eye, and dilated fundus examination demonstrated multilayered hemorrhages at the posterior pole. No intracranial hemorrhage was identified on post-operative imaging. Due to persistent subnormal visual acuity and non-clearing hemorrhage over several weeks of follow-up, a pars plana vitrectomy with peeling of the internal limiting membrane was performed to clear the hemorrhagic component obscuring the macula.

Conclusions and Importance

We report the first case of multilayered intraocular hemorrhages at the posterior pole, mimicking Terson syndrome, in the absence of intracranial hemorrhage or elevated intracranial pressure as a complication of transorbital surgery.

An explanation for Terson syndrome at last: the glymphatic reflux theory

Terson Syndrome (TS) describes the presence of intraocular hemorrhage in patients with intracranial hemorrhage, typically subarachnoid hemorrhage. Despite TS being a well-defined and frequently occurring phenomenon, its pathophysiology remains controversial. This review will present the current understanding of TS, with view to describing a contemporary and more plausible pathomechanism of TS, given recent advances in ophthalmic science and neurobiology. Previously proposed theories include a sudden rise in intracranial pressure (ICP) transmitted to the optic nerve sheath leading to rupture of retinal vessels; or intracranial blood extending to the orbit via the optic nerve sheath. The origin of blood in TS is uncertain, but retinal vessels appear to be an unlikely source. In addition, an anatomical pathway for blood to enter the eye from the intracranial space remains poorly defined. An ocular glymphatic system has recently been described, drainage of which from the globe into intracranial glymphatics is reliant on the pressure gradient between intraocular pressure and intracranial pressure. The glymphatic pathway is the only extravascular anatomical conduit between the subarachnoid space and the retina. We propose that subarachnoid blood in skull base cisterns near the optic nerve is the substrate of blood in TS. Raised ICP causes it to be refluxed through glymphatic channels into the globe, resulting in intraocular hemorrhage. We herewith present glymphatic reflux as an alternative theory to explain the phenomenon of Terson Syndrome.

Subarachnoid hemorrhage-negative Terson syndrome after intracranial artery treatment with a flow diverter device

PURPOSE

To report a case of subarachnoid hemorrhage-negative Terson syndrome following intracranial artery treatment with flow diverter stents.

OBSERVATIONS

A 40-year-old Asian woman presented with floaters in her right eye after treatment of an intracranial aneurysm with flow diverter stents. Vitreous hemorrhage and sub-inner limiting membrane (sub-ILM) hemorrhage were present in her right eye. On fluorescein angiography, contrast perfusion and vascular occlusion were not noted. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) did not show any evidence of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). We hypothesize that the bleeding was due to Terson syndrome associated with intracranial treatment with the flow diverter stents. During follow-up, the vitreous hemorrhage and sub-ILM hemorrhage disappeared, and the floaters in her vision improved.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPORTANCE

This is the first reported case of vitreous hemorrhage and sub-ILM hemorrhage that should be considered to be Terson syndrome, after flow diverter stents treatment in the absence of SAH.

Pseudotumor cerebri syndrome causing a terson like syndrome

Purpose

Terson syndrome presents with retinal and vitreous hemorrhages in patients with a subarachnoid hemorrhage or after acutely elevated intracranial pressure. The source of this hemorrhage has been debated and may originate either from direct extension of intracranial hemorrhage or more likely from the peripapillary retinal vessels.

Observations

A 39-year-old woman presenting with nausea, vomiting, floaters and papilledema with normal neuroimaging was diagnosed ultimately with pseudotumor cerebri syndrome. She had a right vitreous hemorrhage and bilateral subretinal and intraretinal hemorrhages which were consistent with Terson like syndrome. Her symptoms resolved with acetazolamide over one month and the retinal and vitreous hemorrhages significantly improved over two months.

Conclusions and importance

This case with initial presentation of pseudotumor cerebri syndrome causing a Terson like syndrome may help elucidate the mechanism behind the etiology of these hemorrhages from leaking peripapillary vessels.

Terson's syndrome - Pathophysiologic considerations of an underestimated concomitant disease in aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage

Terson syndrome (TS) is a common and underestimated concomitant disease in patients suffering from subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of an initial unconsciousness and raised intracranial pressure (ICP) on the development of TS. We performed a retrospective analysis of 213 prospective collected SAH patients screened for TS to investigate the impact of an initial unconsciousness and raised ICP on the development of TS. A univariate analysis followed by a multivariate logistic regression model was performed to identify risk factors that are associated with TS. The findings are all discussed and correlated with the present pathophysiologic considerations of TS. The rate of TS in this study was 23.9%. A higher risk of TS in the univariate analysis was associated with a Glasgow Coma scale⩽7 (p=0.001), higher Hunt and Hess grade (p=0.001), Fisher grade IV (p=0.002), intracerebral hemorrhage (p=0.011), initial unconsciousness (p=0.013) and an ICP of ⩾25mmHg (p<0.001). An ICP of ⩾25mmHg was the only independent predictor for TS in the multivariate analysis (p=0.007). TS patients had a higher mortality (p=0.012) and a higher risk for a worse long-term outcome (p=0.002). Notable that 5 of 51 TS patients (9.8%) in this study developed TS with no raised ICP or initial unconsciousness. Terson syndrome is a common concomitant disease in SAH patients. The pathomechanism leading to TS is not exclusively related to raised ICP levels and/or unconsciousness. However, these factors may be associated with a high percentage of TS.

Terson's Syndrome in a Patient with von Hippel-Lindau Disease

PURPOSE

Terson's syndrome is a condition where a preretinal hemorrhage forms as a result of increased intracranial pressure. The elevated intracranial pressure is thought to be transmitted through the veins and the optic nerve sheath to the optic disc and retina, causing the thin capillary walls to rupture. The authors present a unique case of Terson's syndrome in a patient who underwent recent surgical management for cerebellar hemangioblastomas related to von Hippel-Lindau disease.

CASE REPORT

A 17-year-old African American female patient with a history of von Hippel-Lindau disease presented with pain in her right eye. She had recently undergone surgery to remove cerebellar hemangioblastomas. Preliminary fundus imaging was performed, but before formal ophthalmic testing could be conducted, the patient seized and was taken directly to the emergency room. When the patient returned for a formal evaluation 3 weeks later, a new preretinal "boat-shaped" hemorrhage was now present. Additionally, reports from the emergency room suggested that she had bled into the cavity where the previous cerebellar resection had taken place. This hemorrhage likely led to an increase in intracranial pressure, causing a Terson's-like event.

CONCLUSIONS

A Terson's event may be caused by high intracranial pressure secondary to the surgical removal of von Hippel-Lindau syndrome-associated cerebellar tumors and should be included as a possible complication of surgical management.

Early Intraocular Complications of Subarachnoid Haemorrhage after Aneurysm Rupture

The aim of this study was to identify factors predisposing for early intraocular complications of aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH). The authors analysed 96 selected cases of aneurysmal SAH. Forty patients (42%) demonstrated abnormal fundus findings, including disc swelling (13.5%), retinal haemorrhages (23%), and vitreous haemorrhage (5%). The incidence of intraocular pathologies was significantly higher in patients who lost consciousness at the onset of SAH, were admitted with high scores of the Hunt-Hess and Fisher scales and low score of the Glasgow Coma Scale, as well as in those with arterial hypertension, more sizable aneurysm, and older.