Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) is a new and non-invasive imaging technique that is able to detect blood flow signal in the retina and the choroid within seconds. OCTA is different from the traditional angiography methods. The major advantages of OCTA are that it can observe blood flow signal in different layers of the retina and the choroid without injecting any dye, provide blood flow information that traditional angiography cannot provide, and enrich pathophysiological knowledge of the retinal and choroidal vascular diseases., which help us to make an accurate diagnosis and efficient evaluation of these diseases. However there is a large upgrade potential either on OCTA technique itself or on clinical application of OCTA. We need to fully understand the advantage and disadvantage, and differences of OCTA and traditional angiography. We also need to know how to interpret the result of OCTA. With that we could make a fast diagnosis in a non-invasive way and improve our knowledge of the retinal and choroidal vascular diseases.
Choroidal nevus is one of the most common benign melanocytic tumor. The prevalence rate of choroidal nevi is 0.15% - 10.00%, which is high among whites and low among colored people, and is obvious higher in male than that in female. Secondary changes in the surrounding retina of the benign tumor, such as subretinal fluid and choroidal neovascularization, may result in vision loss. This benign tumor carries risks for transformation into malignant melanoma. The factors predictive of transformation into melanoma included greater thickness, subretinal fluid, visual symptoms, orange lipofuscin pigment, tumor location (tumor margin near optic disc), ultrasonography hollowness and absence of halo. Early identification of the related features which impair visual acuity is important for early treatment and better prognosis, and it is especially important to monitor the tendency of malignant transformation. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) could provide detailed information which aid in diagnosing, differentiating and monitoring of choroidal nevi. OCT and optical coherence tomography angiography are emerging as excellent techniques to investigate choroidal melanocytic lesions. The treatment modalities, such as laser photocoagulation, photodynamic therapy and intravitreal anti-vascular endothelium growth factor, have been proved to be effective for choroidal nevi with secondary changes. In the future, the relevant researches should be imposed to provide more detailed information in order to explore the nature and characteristics of this disease.
Objective To investigate the imaging characteristics of patients with choroidal folds, which including ocular fundus, fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA), indocyanine green angiography (ICGA) and optical coherence tomography (OCT). Methods The clinical data of 62 eyes of 34 patients with choroidal folds were analyzed retrospectively. The patients include 10 patients(20 eyes) of VogtKoyanagiHarada syndrome, 1 patients(2 eyes) of Behcet diseases, 11 patients(21 eyes) of other uveitis, 5 patients (9 eyes) of papolloedema, 2 patients(2 eyes) of choroidal tumor, 2 patients(4 eyes) of, hypotony with macular degeneration, 1 patient(2 eyes) of,Graves diseases, 1 patient (1 eye) of,blunt trauma and 1 patient(1 eye) of uveal effusion syndrome. All patients underwent the examination of direct ophthalmoscope, fundus color photography and FFA, meanwhile, 9 patients (17 eyes) with ICGA examination, 9 patients(18 eyes) with OCT examination. Results Choroidal folds were bright and dark stripes on the fundus, their numbers were variable. They can be arranged radially, horizontally, oblique or concentrically around the macular area, or radiating from optic disk but rarely over equator region. On FFA there were more folds which were subjected to coarse folds and wrinkles. They were obvious at early stage and no leakage at late stage. On ICGA choroidal folds showed normal or hypofluorescence at early stage, and hyperfluorescence or hypofluorescence at late stage. The hyperfluorescence or hypofluorescence bands were corresponding to the hypofluorescence of FFA but not obvious as FFA. On OCT choroidal folds involved choriod and retinal pigment epithelial layer (RPEL). Conclusion Choroidal fold is a bright and dark stripes that involved choriod and RPEL. The angiography showed hypofluorescence bands without leakage. Be familiar with the imaging features of choroidal folds can help to found the choroidal folds and the original diseases.
Objective To investigate the characteristics of the ocular fundus of Chinese patients with polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV).Methods The photographs of ocular fundus of 42 Chinese patients (48 eyes) with PCV diagnosed by fundus photography, fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA), and indocyanine green angiography (ICGA) were analyzed.Results In 48 eyes with PCV, 35 (72.9%) had subretinal hemorrhage, 13 (27.1%) had yellow-white exudation, 7 (14.6%) had subretinal tuberculum-like focus in tangerine peel at the posterior pole, and 26 (54.2%) had hemorrhagic or serous pigment epithelium detachment (PED). Thirty-six eyes（75.0%）had polypoidal dilations with branching vascular network, and the other 12 (25.0%) had scattered polypoidal dilations without identifiable continuous branching vascular network. The location for these lesions were at the macular region in 30 eyes (62.5%), arcade region in 6 (12.5%), peripapillary region in 3 (6.3%), and combination region in 9 (18.8%).Conclusions Most of the lesions in Chinese patients with PCV locate at the macular region and temporal vascular arcade. Most eyes are characterized by branching choroidal vessels with polyplike terminal aneurysmal dilations in ICGA. (Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis，2003，19：269-332)
The pathogenesis of polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) is still controversial. More evidence of clinical and basic research is needed to distinguish PCV from an independent disease to a subtype of age-related macular degeneration. Not only that, there are also many puzzles in the diagnosis, treatment options and prognosis of PCV. In addition to these common problems, we also face a large population with risk factors, a large number of PCV patients with multiple and complex challenges in China. There is a long way to go to reduce the damage effects of PCV on visual function. To fulfil this goal, we need make full use of the huge resources of PCV patients and turn these challenges into opportunities, and contribute the improvement of diagnosis and better understanding of PCV pathogenesis.
Objective To compare the characteristics of fundus angiograms of central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) with exudative agerelated macular degeneration (AMD) in patients more than 45. Methods The colorized photographs of ocular fundus, and results of fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA) and indocyanine green angiography (ICGA) of 32 patients (39 eyes) with CSC and 20 patients (22 eyes) with exudative AMD more than 45 were collected and analyzed retrospectively. Results In 39 eyes with CSC, the results of FFA revealed classic CSC in 11 (28.2％) and diffuse retinal pigment epitheliopathy (DRPE) in 28 (71.8％); the results of ICGA showed localized choroidal delayed filling associated with dilated vessels in 39 (100％) in the early phase, choroidal hyperpermeability in 39 (100％), identifiable hyperfluorescence of leakage from RPE in 16 (41.0％) was observed in the middle phase, and a distinctive silhouetting of the larger choroidal vessels in 5 (12.8％) was detected in the late phase. In 22 eyes with exudative AMD without evident hemorrage, the results of ICGA exhibited focal CNV in 13 (59.1％), plaque CNV in 8 (36.4%), and combination CNV in 1 (4.5%)；choroidal delayed filling around macular region vicariously was found in 5 (22.7％) in the early phase, choroidal hyperpermeability was not observed in the middle phase and silhouetting of the larger choroidal vessels was not showed in the late phase. Conclusions The differences of the ICGA features between CSC and exudative AMD in patients more than 45 include focal or multifocal hyperfluorescence of leakage from RPE, multifocal choroidal hyperpermeability in the middle phase, silhouetting of the larger choroidal vessels in the late phase, and no focal or plaque CNV.
Objective To observe the characteristics of spectraldomain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) and fundus autofluorescence (FAF) in acute and chronic central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC).Methods Seven-three eyes of 67 patients with CSC diagnosed by slit-lamp microscopy, fundus photochromy, fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA) and indocyanine green angiography were enrolled in this study. All the patients were examined for FAF and SD-OCT. The patients were divided into acute CSC group (37 patients, 37 eyes) and chronic CSC group (30 patients,36 eyes) according to the clinical features and FFA images. According to the OCT feature in retinal detachment area, they were divided into three categories, which including intact, non-intact and atrophy outer segment, respectively. According to the FAF characteristics, they were divided into hyper-FAF, hypo-FAF and mixed type, respectively. The characteristics of SD-OCT and FAF of both acute and chronic CSC patients were evaluated and analyzed. Results In acute CSC group, 19 eyes (51.35%) were hypo-FAF, 18 eyes (48.65%) were hyper-FAF. In chronic CSC group, two eyes (5.56%) were hypo-FAF, 16 eyes (44.44%) were hyper-FAF, and 18 eyes (50.00%) were mixed type. There was significant difference between both groups (chi;2=31.872,P=0.000). The SD-OCT results showed that in acute group, 15 eyes (40.54%) were intact outer segment, 18 eyes (48.65%) were non-intact outer segment, and four eyes (10.81%) were atrophy outer segment. In chronic group, five eyes (13.89%) were intact outer segment, 17 eyes (47.22%) were non-intact outer segment, and 14 eyes (38.89%) were atrophy outer segment. There was significant difference between both groups (chi;2=10.572,P=0.005). Conclusions The FAF characteristics of acute and chronic CSC mainly manifests hypo-FAF and mixed type, respectively. The OCT characteristics of acute CSC mainly manifests intact outer segment and non-intact outer segment, but non-intact outer segment and atrophy outer segment in chronic CSC.