Abstract

Intraocular silicone oil (SiO) is widely used as a long-term internal tamponade in the surgical treatment of various vitreoretinal disorders. A rare but diagnostically critical complication of SiO is its migration into the brain ventricles. Although few such cases have been reported, this condition may mimic serious pathologies such as intraventricular hemorrhage. In this case report, intraventricular migration of SiO was identified in an 81-year-old female with a history of vitreoretinal surgery for diabetic retinopathy–related retinal detachment. She presented with dizziness, imbalance, and nausea, and neuroimaging revealed hyperdense layering within the bilateral frontal horns on non-contrast brain computed tomography. These findings may mimic acute intraventricular hemorrhage, highlighting the importance of clinical and radiological correlation for accurate differential diagnosis. Additionally, the patient was concurrently diagnosed with a cerebellar infarction. Therefore, in patients presenting with stroke-like symptoms, awareness of this rare complication may help prevent unnecessary interventions and potential treatment errors.

Key words: Intraventricular migration; Silicone oil; Retinal surgery; Intraventricular silicone oil; Neuroimaging