Retinal findings in children with intracranial hemorrhage.

PURPOSE: To identify the incidence of Terson's syndrome in children.

DESIGN

Prospective, observational case series.

PARTICIPANTS

Fifty-seven consecutive children with known intracranial hemorrhage from nonabuse causes.

METHODS

Dilated fundus examination to detect intraretinal hemorrhages or other abnormalities.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Presence or absence of intraretinal hemorrhages or other abnormalities.

RESULTS

Fifty-five patients (96%) had no evidence of intraretinal or vitreous hemorrhage. Two patients had abnormal retinal examinations. One patient had a single dot hemorrhage associated with presumed infectious white retinal lesions. The second patient had three flame and two deeper dot intraretinal hemorrhages after a motor vehicle accident (1.5% incidence of retinal hemorrhage).

CONCLUSIONS

Retinal hemorrhage is uncommon in children with intracranial hemorrhage not resulting from shaken baby syndrome. The maximal incidence of intraretinal hemorrhage in children with nonabuse intracranial hemorrhage is 8%.