Clinical and Multimodal Imaging Clues in Differentiating Between Tuberculomas and Sarcoid Choroidal Granulomas.

PURPOSE: To compare the differences among clinical, demographic, and multimodal imaging features of choroidal granulomas associated with tuberculosis and sarcoidosis.

DESIGN

Retrospective comparative case series.

METHODS

Clinical features and fundus imaging, including fluorescein and indocyanine green angiography and optical coherence tomography of patients with tuberculomas and sarcoid choroidal granulomas seen at 3 tertiary care centers, were reviewed. The differences among clinical appearances, including morphology of the lesions (size, shape, extent), vascularity, and multimodal imaging features, were compared. Repeated logistic regression measurements with a multilevel random effects model was used to assess characteristics of individual granulomas that could predict the underlying cause.

RESULTS

The study included 47 eyes of 38 patients (22 with tuberculomas and 16 with sarcoid granulomas; total of 138 granulomas). Patients with tuberculomas were significantly younger (33.8 ± 10.1 vs. 48.6 ± 14.3 years, respectively; P = .002), but no sex differences were observed. In comparison with sarcoid granulomas, tuberculomas were solitary (P <.001), intense yellow, lobulated, full thickness, and located in the perivascular region (all P <.001); they were also larger (16.01 ± 9.7 mm2 vs. 2.7 ± 4.5 mm2, respectively; P <.001) and were vascularized (P <.001). Sarcoid granulomas were associated with retinal vasculitis (P = .003) and disc hyperfluorescence (P <.001). Logistic regression showed that multiple granulomas were associated with sarcoidosis (odds ratio [OR]: 3.5; 95% confidence interval: 1.8-6.9; P <.001). Granulomas larger than 6.45 mm2 had the highest area under the receiver operating curves (0.94) for differentiating tuberculomas from sarcoid granulomas.

CONCLUSIONS

Tuberculomas and sarcoid choroidal granulomas have various clinical and imaging features that help differentiate between the 2 entities with high predictability and can supplement immunological and radiological tests in a diagnosis.