The white dot syndromes.
OBJECTIVE
To review the distinctive and shared features of the white dot syndromes, highlighting the clinical findings, diagnostic test results, proposed etiologies, treatments, and prognosis.


METHODS
Review.


METHODS
Review of the literature.


RESULTS
Common white dot syndromes are reviewed, including acute posterior multifocal placoid pigment epitheliopathy, birdshot chorioretinopathy, diffuse unilateral subacute neuroretinitis, multiple evanescent white dot syndrome, multifocal choroiditis with panuveitis, serpiginous choroiditis, and acute zonal occult outer retinopathy.


CONCLUSIONS
The white dot syndromes are a group of disorders characterized by multiple whitish-yellow inflammatory lesions located at the level of the outer retina, retinal pigment epithelium, and choroid. For clinicians and researchers alike, they present significant diagnostic and therapeutic challenges.
Quillen
David A
DA
Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania 17033, USA. daq2@psu.edu
Davis
Janet B
JB
Gottlieb
Justin L
JL
Blodi
Barbara A
BA
Callanan
David G
DG
Chang
Tom S
TS
Equi
Robert A
RA
D015862:Choroid Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D012164:Retinal Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D013577:Syndrome