A 22-year-old man with HbSS sickle cell disease undergoes routine fundal examination. The peripheral retina shows a well-defined, flat, salmon-coloured intraretinal lesion with no associated exudation. This lesion represents:
- A A sunburst chorioretinal scar following organisation of subretinal blood
- B A sea fan neovascular frond at the border of perfused and non-perfused retina
- C A salmon patch haemorrhage from peripheral retinal arteriolar occlusion ✓
- D A black sunburst representing retinal pigment epithelial hyperplasia
Correct answer: C. A salmon patch haemorrhage from peripheral retinal arteriolar occlusion
Explanation
The salmon patch is an intraretinal haemorrhage in the nerve fibre and ganglion cell layers, arising after peripheral arteriolar occlusion by sickled erythrocytes. It is a nonproliferative sign. Sea fans are elevated neovascular complexes seen in proliferative sickle retinopathy, while black sunbursts are pigmented RPE lesions from resorbed haemorrhage. Sunburst scars are also old lesions, so the flat fresh salmon colour identifies option C.
Reference: Yanoff and Duker's Ophthalmology, 5th ed.
High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP
Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.