Spectral optical coherence tomography findings in an adult patient with syphilitic bilateral posterior uveitis and unilateral punctate inner retinitis

Purpose: To describe the spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) features of a punctate inner retinitis, a rare ocular manifestation of syphilis, in an HIV positive adult patient.

Observations: In the right eye, SD-OCT images during the active period showed hyperreflectivity of the full thickness of the inner retina, precluding the individualization of the layers. In addition, multifocal areas with higher hyperreflectivity were identified within the affected retina. Once the lesion became inactive, SD-OCT images revealed inner retina layers atrophy, disruption of the ellipsoid layer, and multifocal damage to the retinal pigment epithelium layer.

Conclusion and importance: Punctate inner retinitis affects the full thickness retina, leading to severe retinal damage, along with multifocal damage of the retinal pigment epithelium. The multifocal white retinal lesions observed within the affected retinal area correlated with the presence of intense hyperreflective dots within the retina showed by SD-OCT. These lesions are deeper than was described in other reports.