[Clinical aspects and follow-up in astrocytic hamartoma of the retina and optic papilla].

The clinical picture and the results of follow-up examinations in 21 patients with an astrocytic hamartoma of the retina and/or disk are described. Fifty-one tumors were found; 7 of them (in 5 patients) initially appeared as homogeneous, whitish tumors, but later assumed a mulberry appearance. Follow-up in these patients was between 9 and 19 years. Depigmented lesions of the skin ("White Spots") were frequently seen at an early age and were especially helpful when a retinoblastoma had to be excluded in the differential diagnosis.