WHITE-CENTERED RETINAL HEMORRHAGES (ROTH SPOTS)

Roth spots (white-centred retinal haemorrhages) were classically descr ibed as septic emboli lodged in the retina of patients with subacute b acterial endocarditis. Indeed many have considered Roth spots pathogno monic for this condition. More recent histological evidence suggests, however, that they are not foci of bacterial abscess. Instead, they ar e nonspecific and may be found in many other diseases. A review of the histology and the pathogenesis of these white-centred haemorrhages wi ll be provided, along with the work-up of the differential diagnosis.