Neovascularizations Associated with Large Serous Retinal Pigment Epithelial Detachment: Classification According to the Angiographic Features

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To differentiate serous pigment epithelial detachment (PED) according to angiographic features in elderly Korean patients. METHODS: The fluorescein and indocyanine green angiograms of 72 eyes of 67 consecutive patients with a serous PED of at least 1 disc diameter were evaluated retrospectively RESULTS: Polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) and typical choroidal neovascularization (CNV) associated with PEDs were identified in 18 eyes (25%) and 19 eyes (26.4%), respectively. In 10 eyes (13.9%), it could not be determined whether the exact type of neovascularzation was PCV or CNV. Pure serous PEDs were identified in 7 eyes (10%). The remaining 18 eyes (25%) of 13 patients were classified as retinal angiomatous proliferation (RAP) associated with PED, based on the angiographic findings of anastomosis of the retinal vasculature with neovascular lesion, as well as clinical features such as diffuse soft drusen, extrafoveal location, preretinal or superficial retinal hemorrhage, and bilateral tendency. CONCLUSIONS: In Asian patients with neovascularized, age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the incidence of PCV is known to be high, whereas the incidence of RAP is very low. However, the results of this study suggest that RAP is as common as PCV and CNV in a subset group of neovascularized AMD that is accompanied by serous PED.