title: Congenital retinal macrovessels: description of three cases and review of the literature.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Congenital retinal macrovessels are large aberrant branches of retinal arteries or veins that cross the macula. We present three patients with a unilateral congenital retinal macrovessel and we conduct a review of the literature.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 22-year-old man complaining of chronic headache as well as two other men, 18 and 23 years old, respectively, during a routine ophthalmological examination, were found with a unilateral congenital retinal macrovessel each. A thorough ophthalmological examination was performed, including colour fundus photography in all three patients and fluorescein angiography in two of the patients. We followed them up for five years.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Investigation revealed a unilateral venous congenital retinal macrovessel in all patients. Clinical findings and visual acuity remained unchanged throughout the entire follow-up period. No complications were recorded.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Congenital retinal macrovessels are rare and they tend to remain stable. Visual acuity is preserved in most cases. Complications occur only occasionally and have been described in the literature. Differential diagnosis from other arteriovenous malformations affecting multiple organs is necessary.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: I K
authors.initials: IK
authors.lastname: Petropoulos
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Petkou
authors.forename: P E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Theoulakis
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kordelou
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Pournaras
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Katsimpris
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012161:Retinal Artery / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000473:pathology*; D012164:Retinal Diseases / Q000151:congenital* / Q000473:pathology*; D012169:Retinal Vein / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000473:pathology*