12-Year Retrospective Study of Sturge-Weber Syndrome and Literature Review
Suthasinee Sinawat MD*, Narong Auvichayapat MD**, Paradee Auvichayapat MD***, Yosanan Yospaiboon MD*, Supat Sinawat MD***
Affiliation : * Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand ** Devision of Pediatric Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand *** Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand
Objective : To review the clinical manifestations and neuroimaging features of patients with Sturge-Weber syndrome (SWS)
treated at Srinagarind Hospital over a 12-year period.
Material and Method: A retrospective study of sixteen patients with SWS (9 males and 7 females) was conducted. The
medical records, photographs, and neuroimaging studies were reviewed.
Results : All patients had port-wine stain (PWS) involving the eyelid. Bilateral cutaneous lesions were revealed in four
patients (25%). Glaucoma was the main ocular disease being diagnosed in 11 eyes of nine patients (56.25%); four eyes
were finally blind. The cyclodestructive procedure and/or surgical treatment was required in four eyes. Other ocular
abnormalities were refractive error, dilated episcleral vessels, corneal abnormalities, tortuous retinal vessels, choroidal
hemangioma, amblyopia, and strabismus. Twelve patients (75%) had neurological impairment including seizure, hemiparesis,
headache, and delayed development. However, the most common neurological manifestation was epilepsy (75%), which
could be controlled with antiepileptic drugs. Neurological imaging was performed in the majority of cases (14 patients).
Intracranial abnormalities were demonstrated in 11 patients (78.57%). These included cerebral atrophy (81.82%), cerebral
calcification (54.55%), leptomeningeal angioma (27.27%), and enlarged choroidal plexus (27.27%). The ocular complication
and intracranial abnormalities were usually ipsilateral to the PWS. One patient with unilateral PWS, however, had bilateral
intracranial lesion.
Conclusion : Port-wine stains, glaucoma, and seizure were the most common clinical features of Sturge-Weber syndrome
detected in the present study. Complete ophthalmic and neurological evaluation should be performed at the time of diagnosis.
Multidisciplinary team management as well as lifelong follow-up is needed.
Keywords : Sturge-Weber, Port-wine stains, Nevus flammeus, Leptomeningeal angiomatosis, Epilepsy
