Atlas Entry - Grouped congenital albinotic spots of the retinal pigmented epithelium (polar bear tracks)

Grouped congenital albinotic spots of the retinal pigmented epithelium (polar bear tracks)

Category(ies): Retina, Vitreous

Contributor: Jesse Vislisel, MD

Photographer: Brice Critser, CRA

Congenital albinotic spots of the retinal pigmented epithelium (CASRPE) can be configured in solitary or grouped configurations. Groups of the spots, as seen here, are commonly referred to as "polar bear tracks" due to their color and resemblance of animal footprints. It is believed that these spots may develop secondary to deposition of an abnormal white material in retinal pigmented epithelial (RPE) cells rather than the usual darkly pigmented melanin. The lesions are flat, sharply circumscribed, placoid, chalky white, and lie at the level of the RPE. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) demonstrates a disruption of the highly-reflective signal from the ellipsoid zone in the region of the lesions, as indicated by the orange line on the scan.

fundus of polar bear tracks, congenital albinotic spots of the retinal pigmented epithelium (CASRPE)

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montage of polar bear tracks, congenital albinotic spots of the retinal pigmented epithelium (CASRPE)

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oct of polar bear tracks, congenital albinotic spots of the retinal pigmented epithelium (CASRPE) — Optical coherence tomography (OCT) demonstrates a disruption of the highly-reflective signal from the ellipsoid zone in the region of the lesions, as indicated by the orange line on the scan.

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Reference:

Gass JD. Focal congenital anomalies of the retinal pigment epithelium. Eye (1989) 3;1-18.
Kim DY, Hwang JC, Moore AT, Bird AC, Tsang SH. Fundus Autofluorescence and Optical Coherence Tomography of Congenital Grouped Albinotic Spots. Retina. Sep 2010; 30(8): 1217–1222.