Retinal astrocytomas: Long-term follow-up

Background: Retinal astrocytomas are exceedingly rare benign tumours of the retina. Their occurrence can be solitary or multiple, uni- or bilateral, isolated or in association with a phakomatosis such as tuberous sclerosis or neurofibromatosis type 1. Patients and Methods: We report the long-term follow-up in three patients with retinal astrocytomas. Results: Over many years of follow-up all astrocytomas showed very little progression and no deterioration of visual function. Subtle changes occurred inside the lesions. Conclusions: Even after long-term follow-up the natural course of retinal astrocytic hamartomas seems to be favourable, with visual loss and significant growth being unlikely to occur. A thorough ophthalmological and general evaluation, in order to rule out an underlying systemic disease and to document the ocular status, are needed initially. Thereafter eye examinations can be scheduled in long intervals.