High-frequency ultrasonography findings in persistent hyperplastic primaryvitreous

Purpose: To identify anatomic correlates in eyes with persistent hyperplast ic primary vitreous (PHPV) by using high-frequency ultrasonography. Method: Three main groups of patients were studied by means of high-frequency ultr asonography over a 19-month period. Group I included 9 eyes of 9 patients w ith newly diagnosed unilateral PHPV. Group II included 4 eyes of 4 patients with unilateral PHPV that had been previously surgically treated. Group II I included 22 eyes and was a control group of patients without PHPV. This g roup consisted of the 5 contralateral normal eyes of 5 patients with unilat eral PHPV in the fellow eye, both eyes of one patient with uncomplicated un ilateral cataracts, the affected eye of one patient with unilateral uncompl icated cataract, the affected eye of one patient with isolated retinal colo boma, and 13 normal eyes of 7 young adults. Group I and II patients also ha d B-scan ultrasonography performed and had any intraoperative findings note d. Results: Characteristic features of PHPV, such as centrally dragged cili ary processes and swollen anteriorly displaced lens, were observed only in those eyes with PHPV. A new echographic finding of a double linear echo was observed in the region of the pars plana or plicata only in eyes with PHPV . This finding was confirmed intraoperatively to be consistent with a thick ened adherent anterior hyaloid face and not to be an anteriorly inserted pe ripheral retina. Conclusion: High-frequency ultrasound can be reliably used to distinguish characteristic features of PHPV. To our knowledge this is t he first such description of the use of high-frequency ultrasonography in P HPV eyes. Furthermore, the presence of a thickened adherent anterior hyaloi d face may help explain the well-recognized complications of peripheral ret inal tears and retinal detachments during and after surgical intervention.