Choroidal metastases fundus autofluorescence imaging: correlation to clinical, OCT, and fluorescein angiographic findings.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

To correlate fundus autofluorescence (FAF) characteristics of metastatic choroidal tumors with optical coherence tomography/scanning laser ophthalmoscope (OCT/SLO).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A retrospective review of 10 choroidal metastases in 9 patients.

RESULTS

All tumors were amelanotic, although 8 exhibited surface pigmentation. FAF imaging revealed hyperautofluorescence in areas of focal pigmentation and subretinal fluid with hypoautofluorescent margins (n = 5) corresponding to OCT evidence of retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) thickening and subretinal fluid. Loss of RPE was FAF imaging hypoautofluorescent. FAF images changed with tumor growth. OCT best revealed elevation of the RPE and retina, RPE thickening and folds, and retinal detachment.

CONCLUSION

FAF imaging best defined surface characteristics and tumor margins. FAF imaging hyperautofluorescence correlated to focal hyperpigmentation, subretinal fluid, and advancing tumor edges. OCT better demonstrated intraretinal findings (atrophy, subretinal fluid, and increased and lost RPE). This study shows that FAF imaging and OCT reveal unique tumor characteristics of choroidal metastasis.