Preterm diagnosis of choristoma and choroidal coloboma in Goldenhar's syndrome.

In addition to general pathological findings characteristic of Goldenhar's syndrome, we report ocular findings in a 22-week-old fetus with hemifacial microsomia, endorsing this diagnosis. After abortion the fetus was examined via a standard paidopathological autopsy including ophthalmopathologic macroscopic and microscopic examination of both eyes. Postmortem findings included left hemifacial microsomia with ipsilateral microtia, atresia of the acoustic meatus, microphthalmia, a ventricular septal defect, and abnormalities of the ribs. Ophthalmopathological examination of the affected microphthalmic eye revealed a scleral choristoma (cartilage), choroidal/retinal pigment epithelium coloboma, and staphyloma. General pathology findings plus the ocular findings allowed the diagnosis of Goldenhar's syndrome. The cartilaginous choristoma present in the patient has previously not been reported in association with this syndrome. A discussion of differential diagnoses is provided, confirming that the ophthalmopathological investigation of fetal eyes can be of great value for classifying syndromes associated with microphthalmia.