Brushfield

Brushfield spots are small, white or grayish/brown spots on the periphery of the iris in the human eye due to aggregation of a normal iris element (connective tissue). They are named after the physician Thomas Brushfield, who first described them in his doctoral thesis in 1924.

Appearance

Brushfield spots are more commonly found in children with Down syndrome. They appear as small white or light yellowish spots that are slightly elevated on the surface of the iris. They are caused by the aggregation of normal iris stromal elements and are present in 35–78% of newborn infants with Down syndrome.

Diagnosis

Brushfield spots can be identified through a simple eye examination. They are usually visible to the naked eye but may require a slit lamp examination for confirmation. The presence of these spots alone is not diagnostic of Down syndrome, but their presence in conjunction with other physical characteristics may lead to a diagnosis.

Differential Diagnosis

Brushfield spots should be differentiated from Wolfflin nodules and Krukenberg spindle, which are also iris anomalies but are not associated with Down syndrome.

See also

• Down syndrome
• Thomas Brushfield
• Wolfflin nodules
• Krukenberg spindle

References

Brushfield Resources
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