They are rare, and the person is born with them. They are nothing but pigment deposits and don’t interfere with vision.

Seen with an ophthalmoscope, they do resemble animal tracks. RPEH lesions tend to be black or atrophic.ĪNSWER: Bear tracks are small gray to black dots scattered on the retina at the back of the eye. The eye examination will concentrate on the appearance of the retinal pigment epithelial hypertrophy. Retinal pigment epithelial hypertrophy (CHRPE and RPEH) can be diagnosed by ophthalmic examination. In a sense, such transformation of CHRPE into a neoplasm of the RPE may be analogous to the malignant transformation of a choroidal nevus into a malignant melanoma. In our patient, they were predominantly located in the nasal retina, inferiorly in the right eye and superiorly in the left. They are often grouped in one sector of the fundus. What do bear tracks in retina mean?īear tracks are congenital anomalies that are characterized by small, sharply circumscribed, variably sized, pigment spots. Despite their appearance, however, they cause no vision loss and have almost no potential to turn cancerous. They are often much larger and more heavily pigmented than nevi. Intra-familial variation of CHRPE gene expression is possible, indicating that negative fundoscopy individuals belonging to CHRPE positive families should not be excluded from the colonoscopic screening and or genetic analysis.ĬHRPE (congenital hypertrophy of the RPE) is also a benign pigmented ocular lesion. Despite various statistically significant findings, CHRPE alone cannot be used as a surrogate for diagnosing FAP in those with a positive family history.ĬHRPE positive individuals present a 100% chance of having the genetic mutation. The percentage of FAP patients with CHRPE was found to be 80.00%, whereas the percentage of at-risk patients with CHRPE was 31.12%. What percentage of patients with Chrpe have FAP? The prevelance of CHRPE in the normal population is between 1.2% to 4.4% which increases its specificity for screening. How common are Chrpe?ĬHRPE has no malignant potential. It is a congenital hamartoma of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and occurs in three variant forms: solitary (unifocal), grouped (multifocal) and atypical. Tumors are more commonly found in the peripheral retina where thickness is more difficult to judge by ophthalmoscopy.Congenital hypertrophy of the retinal pigment epithelium (CHRPE) is a typically benign, asymptomatic, pigmented fundus lesion. These This area of retinal pigment epithelial hypertrophy demonstrates a blue hue. Variable in size, RPEH lesions may develop lacunae of lightly colored areas of atrophy (see image above). They are typically jet-black to gray, flat, with a halo around its edges. In contrast, acquired retinal pigment epithelial hypertrophy (RPEH) is typically found later in life. Therefore, if your eye care specialist has told you that you have CHPRE( pronounced CHER PEE), it is reasonable to tell your primary care physician or gastroenterologist (if you have one) so that he or she may recommend the frequency of colon screening tests. This is a case of congenital hypertrophy of the retinal pigment epithelium, “bear-tracks.”

CHPRE has been an association with Gardner’s Syndrome (familial colonic polyposis). They may enlarge with time, but are not malignant. They are typically found during routine eye examinations.Ĭongenital retinal pigment epithelial hypertrophy (CHRPE) is usually found before patients reach 30 years of age.

Areas of retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) hypertrophy usually do not cause symptoms. The retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) is a pigmented layer of the retina which can be thicker than normal at birth (congenital) or may thicken later in life. Finger, MD Description Note the flat, black well circumscribed lesion with areas of retinal pigment epithelial atrophy.

Bear tracks retina