Dataset Information

A pilot study of morphometric analysis of choroidal vasculature in vivo, using en face optical coherence tomography.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

To study the ability of volumetric spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) to perform quantitative measurement of the choroidal vasculature in vivo.

Methods

Choroidal vascular density and vessel size were quantified using en face choroidal scans from various depths below the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) in 58 eyes of 58 patients with either epiretinal membranes (ERM), early age-related macular degeneration (AMD), or reticular pseudo-drusen (RPD). For each patient, we used the macular volume scan (6×6 mm cube) for vessel quantification, while high-definition (HD) cross-section raster scans were used to qualitatively assess vascularity of the choroidal sub-layers, and measure choroidal thickness.

Results

Of the 58 patients, more were female (66% versus 34% male), of whom 14 (24%) had ERM, 11 (19%) early AMD, and 33 (57%) RPD. Compared to intact choriocapillaris in all ERM (100%), none of the RPD and only 5/11 (45%) early AMD eyes had visible choriocapillaris on either cross section or C-scans (p-value<0.001). When comparing select regions from the most superficial C-scans, early AMD group had lowest vascular density and RPD had highest (p-value 0.04). Qualitative evaluation of C-scans from all three groups revealed a more granular appearance of the choriocapillaris in ERM versus increased stroma and larger vessels in the RPD eyes.

Conclusions

SD-OCT can be used to qualitatively and quantitatively assess choroidal vascularity in vivo. Our findings correlate to previously reported histopathologic studies. Lack of choriocapillaris on HD cross-sections or C-scans in all RPD and about half of early AMD eyes suggests earlier choroidal involvement in AMD and specifically, RPD.

SUBMITTER: Sohrab M

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3506620 | biostudies-literature | 2012

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

A pilot study of morphometric analysis of choroidal vasculature in vivo, using en face optical coherence tomography.

Sohrab Mahsa M Wu Katherine K Fawzi Amani A AA

PloS one 20121126 11

<h4>Purpose</h4>To study the ability of volumetric spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) to perform quantitative measurement of the choroidal vasculature in vivo.<h4>Methods</h4>Choroidal vascular density and vessel size were quantified using en face choroidal scans from various depths below the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) in 58 eyes of 58 patients with either epiretinal membranes (ERM), early age-related macular degeneration (AMD), or reticular pseudo-drusen (RPD). For each ...[more]

PMID: 23189132

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Project description:ImportanceImaging of the choriocapillaris in vivo is challenging with existing technology. Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA), if optimized, could make the imaging less challenging.ObjectiveTo investigate multiple en face image averaging on OCTA images of the choriocapillaris.Design, setting, and participantsObservational, cross-sectional case series at a referral institutional practice in Los Angeles, California. From the original cohort of 21 healthy individuals, 17 normal eyes of 17 participants were included in the study. The study dates were August to September 2016.ExposuresAll participants underwent OCTA imaging of the macula covering a 3 × 3-mm area using OCTA software (Cirrus 5000 with AngioPlex; Carl Zeiss Meditec). One eye per participant was repeatedly imaged to obtain 9 OCTA cube scan sets. Registration was first performed using superficial capillary plexus images, and this transformation was then applied to the choriocapillaris images. The 9 registered choriocapillaris images were then averaged. Quantitative parameters were measured on binarized OCTA images and compared with the unaveraged OCTA images.Main outcome and measureVessel caliber measurement.ResultsSeventeen eyes of 17 participants (mean [SD] age, 35.1 [6.0] years; 9 [53%] female; and 9 [53%] of white race/ethnicity) with sufficient image quality were included in this analysis. The single unaveraged images demonstrated a granular appearance, and the vascular pattern was difficult to discern. After averaging, en face choriocapillaris images showed a meshwork appearance. The mean (SD) diameter of the vessels was 22.8 (5.8) µm (range, 9.6-40.2 µm). Compared with the single unaveraged images, the averaged images showed more flow voids (1423 flow voids [95% CI, 967-1909] vs 1254 flow voids [95% CI, 825-1683], P < .001), smaller average size of the flow voids (911 [95% CI, 301-1521] µm2 vs 1364 [95% CI, 645-2083] µm2, P < .001), and greater vessel density (70.7% [95% CI, 61.9%-79.5%] vs 61.9% [95% CI, 56.0%-67.8%], P < .001). The distribution of the number vs sizes of the flow voids was skewed in both unaveraged and averaged images. A linear log-log plot of the distribution showed a more homogeneous distribution in the averaged images compared with the unaveraged images.Conclusions and relevanceMultiple en face averaging can improve visualization of the choriocapillaris on OCTA images, transforming the images from a granular appearance to a level where the intervascular spaces can be resolved in healthy volunteers.

Project description:Importance:Patients with birdshot chorioretinopathy (BSCR) can experience a delay in diagnosis owing to the challenges of identifying the condition prior to evolution of characteristic choroidal scars. An objective, noninvasive method for detecting early lesions in BSCR might have an effect on preventing vision loss in these patients. Objective:To test the feasibility of swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography (SS-OCTA) in the detection of BSCR choroidal lesions and to use en face image analysis of choroidal layers to localize lesion depth. Design, Setting, and Participants:Prospective, longitudinal, observational case series of 3 patients diagnosed as having BSCR at 1 of 2 tertiary care uveitis centers between August 2017 and October 2017. Exposures:Widefield SS-OCTA and indocyanine green angiography (ICGA). Main Outcomes and Measures:En face SS-OCTA slabs through the choroid were evaluated for the presence of flow voids corresponding to hypocyanescent lesions by ICGA. Baseline and posttreatment images were compared. Results:Six eyes of 3 patients with previously undiagnosed and untreated BSCR were imaged at baseline and after initiation of immune modulation treatment. Two patients had a history of recent-onset BSCR, and the third patient had a history of chronic untreated disease of at least 5 years' duration. All patients were white and between the ages of 50 and 67 years. All eyes demonstrated multiple flow voids on en face SS-OCTA images that corresponded with hypocyanescent lesions by ICGA. Analysis of serial depth en face SS-OCTA flow images identified that in the acute-onset patients, flow voids were located adjacent to large vessels in the Haller layer and regressed with treatment. In the patient with chronic, untreated disease, full-thickness choroidal flow voids were identified that did not regress with treatment. Conclusions and Relevance:For these 3 patients, SS-OCTA provided a noninvasive method for identifying early BSCR lesions previously visible only with ICGA. The depth information provided by SS-OCTA suggests acute lesions originate in the Haller layer, and that in the absence of treatment, damage extends up thorough the superficial choroid, and ultimately to the retinal pigment epithelium and retina. Swept-source OCTA may represent a new and noninvasive method for detecting and monitoring disease activity in BSCR.

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Dataset Information

A pilot study of morphometric analysis of choroidal vasculature in vivo, using en face optical coherence tomography.

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Publications

A pilot study of morphometric analysis of choroidal vasculature in vivo, using en face optical coherence tomography.

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