Pigment epithelium detachment with thickened choroid in a preterm infant at term-equivalent age: a case report

Pigment epithelial detachment (PED) is well-documented in adult retinal diseases but is rarely reported in neonates. This case describes a preterm infant, born at 31 weeks, who developed PED with thickened choroid at term-equivalent age, detected using handheld OCT. The PED emerged at 39 weeks postm...

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Main Authors: Seong Joon Ahn, Vincent Tai, Katrina P. Winter, Neeru Sarin, Cynthia A. Toth
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-08-01
Series:Frontiers in Medicine
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2025.1581191/full
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author Seong Joon Ahn
Seong Joon Ahn
Vincent Tai
Katrina P. Winter
Neeru Sarin
Cynthia A. Toth
author_facet Seong Joon Ahn
Seong Joon Ahn
Vincent Tai
Katrina P. Winter
Neeru Sarin
Cynthia A. Toth
author_sort Seong Joon Ahn
collection DOAJ
description Pigment epithelial detachment (PED) is well-documented in adult retinal diseases but is rarely reported in neonates. This case describes a preterm infant, born at 31 weeks, who developed PED with thickened choroid at term-equivalent age, detected using handheld OCT. The PED emerged at 39 weeks postmenstrual age, coinciding with inhaled steroid treatment for respiratory distress, and resolved by 41 weeks after steroid discontinuation without structural damage. The temporal relationship suggests an association between steroid use and PED with choroidal changes. This case highlights the value of OCT in detecting retinal and choroidal abnormalities in preterm infants and underscores the potential impact of systemic conditions and medications on the choroid.
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spelling doaj-art-e41725459b3e4bd4859fde8790bcfc742025-08-20T03:03:46ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Medicine2296-858X2025-08-011210.3389/fmed.2025.15811911581191Pigment epithelium detachment with thickened choroid in a preterm infant at term-equivalent age: a case reportSeong Joon Ahn0Seong Joon Ahn1Vincent Tai2Katrina P. Winter3Neeru Sarin4Cynthia A. Toth5Department of Ophthalmology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, United StatesDepartment of Ophthalmology, Hanyang University Hospital, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Ophthalmology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, United StatesDepartment of Ophthalmology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, United StatesDepartment of Ophthalmology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, United StatesDepartment of Ophthalmology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, United StatesPigment epithelial detachment (PED) is well-documented in adult retinal diseases but is rarely reported in neonates. This case describes a preterm infant, born at 31 weeks, who developed PED with thickened choroid at term-equivalent age, detected using handheld OCT. The PED emerged at 39 weeks postmenstrual age, coinciding with inhaled steroid treatment for respiratory distress, and resolved by 41 weeks after steroid discontinuation without structural damage. The temporal relationship suggests an association between steroid use and PED with choroidal changes. This case highlights the value of OCT in detecting retinal and choroidal abnormalities in preterm infants and underscores the potential impact of systemic conditions and medications on the choroid.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2025.1581191/fulloptical coherence tomographychoroidpigment epithelium detachmentpretermsteroid
spellingShingle Seong Joon Ahn
Seong Joon Ahn
Vincent Tai
Katrina P. Winter
Neeru Sarin
Cynthia A. Toth
Pigment epithelium detachment with thickened choroid in a preterm infant at term-equivalent age: a case report
Frontiers in Medicine
optical coherence tomography
choroid
pigment epithelium detachment
preterm
steroid
title Pigment epithelium detachment with thickened choroid in a preterm infant at term-equivalent age: a case report
title_full Pigment epithelium detachment with thickened choroid in a preterm infant at term-equivalent age: a case report
title_fullStr Pigment epithelium detachment with thickened choroid in a preterm infant at term-equivalent age: a case report
title_full_unstemmed Pigment epithelium detachment with thickened choroid in a preterm infant at term-equivalent age: a case report
title_short Pigment epithelium detachment with thickened choroid in a preterm infant at term-equivalent age: a case report
title_sort pigment epithelium detachment with thickened choroid in a preterm infant at term equivalent age a case report
topic optical coherence tomography
choroid
pigment epithelium detachment
preterm
steroid
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2025.1581191/full
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