OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY ANGIOGRAPHY OF POLYPOIDAL CHOROIDAL VASCULOPATHY AND POLYPOIDAL CHOROIDAL NEOVASCULARIZATION.

PURPOSE

To describe the use of optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A) for evaluating the spectrum of polypoidal vascular diseases.

METHODS

Retrospective observational case series of seven patients with polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (three cases) or polypoidal choroidal neovascularization (four cases). Optical coherence tomography angiography information was acquired using two different OCT-A devices (the Optovue RTVue XR Avanti SD-OCT and the Spectralis OCT angiography). Flow signals within branching vascular networks, type 1 neovascularization and polyps were evaluated. Comparisons were made between en face and cross-sectional OCT-A images. Vascular information from OCT-A was also compared with indocyanine green angiography.

RESULTS

En face images from OCT-A provided anatomical information about branching vascular networks that were comparable to indocyanine green angiography. Polyps were poorly resolved on en face OCT-A images but were clearly defined on cross-sectional OCT-A images. Cross-sectional OCT-A revealed flow signals within focal regions of the polyps with a significant portion of the polyp lumen being devoid of flow signal. Flow signals from cross-sectional OCT-A images also showed that branching vascular networks, type 1 neovascularization, and polyps were confined to the anatomic compartment between the retinal pigment epithelium and Bruch's membrane. It was not possible to detect leakage on en face or cross-sectional OCT-A.

CONCLUSION

The combination of en face and cross-sectional OCT-A images provides anatomical information about polypoidal structures that is comparable to indocyanine green angiography. OCT-A may be a useful modality for the management of polypoidal diseases. However, the limitations of OCT-A identified in this study suggest that it is not a replacement for indocyanine green angiography.