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.
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 the ocular fundus of exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD) with polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV). Methods The photographs of ocular fundus of 123 patients (137 eyes) with exudative AMD and 42 patients (48 eyes) with PCV diagnosed by fundus photography, fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA), and indocyanine green angiography (ICGA) were retrospectively analyzed. Results In 137 eyes with exudative AMD, 16 eyes (11.7%) had classic neovascularization (CNV), 121 (88.3%) had occult CNV. In the eyes with occult CNV, 42 eyes (34.7%) had hot spots, 74 eyes (61.2%) showed plaque hyperfluorescences and 2 eyes (1.7%) had hot spots with PCV in ICGA. In 48 eyes with PCV, 7 eyes (14.6%) had subretinal reddish-orange lesions, 2 eyes (4.2%) of the polypoidal dilations with branching vascular network were detected with FFA, 36 eyes (75.0%) demonstrated polypoidal dilations with branching vascular network, and 12 eyes (25.0%) showed scattered polypoidal dilations without identifiable continuous branching vascular network, 16 eyes (33.3%) had the polypoidal dilations resembling a cluster of grapes, and 32 eyes (66.3%) showed the polypoidal dilations as several solitary round aneurismal dilations. The polypoidal dilations showed either a washout of the dye from the polyp with staining of its walls or staining of the dye in the late phase of ICGA. Conclusions The different features of exudative AMD and PCV in the ICGA, and the PCV with subretinal reddish-orange lesions are useful in the differentiate diagnosis of the both diseases. (Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis，2004，20：307-309)
Peripapillary intrachoroidal cavitation (PICC) is a common pathological change observed in high myopia. The exact pathogenesis of PICC is still unclear. Expansion and mechanical stretching of the peripapillary sclera, breakage and defect in the retina near the border of the myopic conus and communication between intrachoroidal cavity and the vitreous space may be important segments during the development of PICC. Color fundus photography shows a localized and well-circumscribed peripapillary lesion with yellow-orange colour, often accompanied by fundus changes, such as myopic conus excavation, optic disc tilting and inferotemporal retinal vein bending at the transition from the PICC to the myopic conus. However, the PICC lesion is not easy to be recognized in the fundus photography. Fluorescein angiography shows early hypofluorescence and later progressively staining in the lesion. Indocyanine green angiography shows hypofluorescence throughout the examination. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is vital in diagnosing PICC. Hyporeflective cavities inside the choroid, sometimes communicating with the vitreous chamber, can be observed in OCT images. OCT angiography indicates lower vessel density or even absence of choriocapillary network inside or around PICC lesions.