Echographic findings in ‘brawny’ scleritis. A ten-year follow-up

Abstract

A case of nodular (‘brawny’) scleritis is reported together with its echographic findings. Data on a ten-year echographic follow-up are described; this case was first described by us in 1988, and the duration of its clinical history is 25 years. Whatever apparatus was used over the years, the B-scan images showed a fusiform enlargement of the ocular wall; the anterior aspect bulged towards the vitreous cavity like a tumor, while the posterior aspect bulged towards the orbital space giving rise to a staphyloma-like appearance. This appearance and the very strong acoustic shadowing behind the lesion helps to differentiate this condition from choroidal melanomas. The A-scan internal reflectivity of posterior scleritis is still much debated. The different A-scan patterns might be explained by the diverse pathological changes that occur in the various types of sleritis