Retina: retinal astrocytic hamartoma: practice question

A Ophthalmology question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Ophthalmology · Retina: retinal astrocytic hamartoma

Sample item

A 7-year-old with infantile spasms and hypomelanotic skin patches has a whitish, mulberry-like elevated lesion at the edge of the optic disc. Which lesion is this?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

B. Retinal astrocytic hamartoma

Retinal astrocytic hamartomas are typical of tuberous sclerosis and appear as flat grey lesions or calcified mulberry-like nodules near the disc. They are usually stable and rarely threaten vision. Their presence supports the diagnosis in a child with seizures and skin signs.

Option by option

  • A. Congenital hypertrophy of the retinal pigment epithelium

    Congenital hypertrophy of the pigment epithelium is a flat dark lesion without elevation or calcification.

  • B. Retinal astrocytic hamartoma (correct)

    Correct. A calcified mulberry lesion at the disc in a child with seizures and skin patches is an astrocytic hamartoma of tuberous sclerosis.

  • C. Choroidal osteoma

    Choroidal osteoma is a yellow-orange calcified choroidal tumour in young women, unrelated to this syndrome.

  • D. Retinal capillary haemangioblastoma

    A capillary haemangioblastoma is orange-red with dilated vessels and belongs to von Hippel-Lindau disease.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

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Questions about this Ophthalmology question

What is the answer to this Ophthalmology question?

The best answer is B, Retinal astrocytic hamartoma. Retinal astrocytic hamartomas are typical of tuberous sclerosis and appear as flat grey lesions or calcified mulberry-like nodules near the disc.

Why is "Congenital hypertrophy of the retinal pigment epithelium" not the answer?

Congenital hypertrophy of the pigment epithelium is a flat dark lesion without elevation or calcification.

Why is "Choroidal osteoma" not the answer?

Choroidal osteoma is a yellow-orange calcified choroidal tumour in young women, unrelated to this syndrome.

Why is "Retinal capillary haemangioblastoma" not the answer?

A capillary haemangioblastoma is orange-red with dilated vessels and belongs to von Hippel-Lindau disease.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Retina: retinal astrocytic hamartoma in Ophthalmology. They are usually stable and rarely threaten vision. Their presence supports the diagnosis in a child with seizures and skin signs.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Retina: retinal astrocytic hamartoma?

Group the red eye by what to examine and what the pupil does. Then use the flashcards and the other Ophthalmology questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.