SUCCESSFUL CLOSURE OF A LARGE FULL-THICKNESS MACULAR HOLE SECONDARY TO AN IDIOPATHIC RETINAL VASOPROLIFERATIVE TUMOR USING THE INVERTED INTERNAL LIMITING MEMBRANE FLAP TECHNIQUE.

Purpose: To report a case of large full thickness macular hole (MH) as an uncommon complication of an idiopathic retinal vasoproliferative tumor (RPVT) and the successful closure of the full-thickness MH by the inverted internal limiting membrane Flap technique.

Methods: A case report. A 40-year-old woman was referred for a progressive and profound visual loss on the right eye. The fundus examination showed a full-thickness MH and the presence of an idiopathic RPVT surrounding by numerous exudates in the inferior temporal of the peripheral retina. In addition, the spectral domain optical coherence tomography imaging confirmed the large size of the full-thickness MH (740 μ m-diameter). First, we treated the RPVT using the transconjunctival cryotherapy. Then, we performed the macular surgery including 25 Gauge vitrectomy, inverted internal limiting membrane flap technique, and gas tamponade.

Results: In the postoperative period, the RPVT remained inactive with no recurrence of the MH or excessive gliosis proliferation on the internal limiting membrane flap area. Moreover, visual acuity rose up from 20/100 (0.2) at 1-month follow-up to 20/40 (0.5) at 6-month follow-up.

Conclusion: In our patient, the full-thickness MH was precisely large and secondary to an RPVT. The treatment of the tumor by transconjunctival cryotherapy had been efficient and the postoperative follow-up after the macular procedure involving the inverted internal limiting membrane flap technique showed the anatomical and functional recovery of the macula.