THE EVOLUTION OF ISOLATED NEOVASCULAR TUFTS ("POPCORN") IN RETINOPATHY OF PREMATURITY.

PURPOSE: To explore the natural evolution of isolated neovascular tufts ("popcorn") in retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and its significance in the progression of acute ROP.

METHODS

In this retrospective case series, 89 infants (89 eyes) in total having acute ROP were analyzed during serial retinal examinations with a RetCam III wide-angle fundus imaging system, among which 53 eyes were observed to have popcorn and 36 eyes did not. The clinical outcomes of the popcorn (+) group and the popcorn (-) group were compared.

RESULTS

Popcorn was located only in Zone II, Stage 2 ROP, primarily in the temporal field (65%). It appeared at a mean postmenstrual age of (37.6 ± 1.3) weeks, disappeared at (41.0 ± 2.2) weeks, and lasted for (2.8 ± 1.1) weeks. The popcorn (+) group had a significantly higher natural regression incidence than the popcorn (-) group (P < 0.05). The laser-treated eyes in the popcorn (+) group had earlier presentations (36.4 ± 0.7 vs. 38.2 ± 1.3 weeks) and shorter existences (1.5 ± 0.5 vs. 3.2 ± 0.9 weeks) of popcorn than the regressed eyes (P < 0.01, respectively).

CONCLUSION

Popcorn is generally a "benign" indicator of the regression of ROP. The early presentation (<postmenstrual age 37 weeks) and short duration of popcorn require further observation.