ABSTRACT
Two cases of polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) complicating benign choroidal nevus and their tomographic features at spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) are reported. Two eyes with choroidal nevus and associated subretinal fluid underwent complete ophthalmological examination, SD-OCT, fundus fluorescein angiography, and indocyanine green angiography (ICGA). SD-OCT and ICGA confirmed the diagnosis of PCV in both cases. Ophthalmologists should be aware of this rare combination between choroidal nevus and PCV. If a choroidal nevus presents with subretinal fluid, this does not always herald malignant transformation, and PCV should be ruled out so that the correct treatment can be planned.
Subject(s)
Choroid Neoplasms/diagnosis , Choroidal Neovascularization/diagnosis , Nevus, Pigmented/diagnosis , Polyps/diagnosis , Tomography, Optical Coherence , Aged , Angiogenesis Inhibitors/therapeutic use , Capillary Permeability , Choroid Neoplasms/drug therapy , Choroidal Neovascularization/drug therapy , Exudates and Transudates , Female , Fluorescein Angiography , Humans , Male , Nevus, Pigmented/drug therapy , Photochemotherapy , Polyps/drug therapy , Ranibizumab/therapeutic use , Retinal Detachment/diagnosis , Retinal Pigment Epithelium/pathology , Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A/antagonists & inhibitors , Visual AcuityABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To describe the autofluorescence (AF) characteristics of choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in patients with age-related macular degeneration. METHODS: Autofluorescence images of 65 consecutive eyes with CNV at various stages of evolution were analyzed. Twenty images were of recent-onset CNV (group 1), 8 were of eyes 1 to 6 months after CNV diagnosis (group 2), and 37 were late-stage CNV (group 3). Autofluorescence images from groups 1 and 2 were compared with fundus fluorescein angiographic images. RESULTS: Group 1 showed areas of hyperfluorescence on fundus fluorescein angiography corresponding to areas of normal AF in 16 of 20 cases, with adjacent areas of increased AF in 13 cases. The main areas of abnormal AF were larger than the main areas of abnormal fluorescence on fundus fluorescein angiography in 18 of the 20 cases. Groups 2 and 3 showed areas of decreased AF corresponding to areas of previous leakage on fundus fluorescein angiography (in group 2) or atrophy. CONCLUSIONS: Preserved AF in group 1 indicates viable retinal pigment epithelium initially, which has implications for visual prognosis. Decreased AF in groups 2 and 3 indicates loss of retinal pigment epithelium and photoreceptors. Autofluorescence imaging may increase our understanding of CNV in age-related macular degeneration.
