Diagnostic evaluation of type 2 (classic) choroidal neovascularization: optical coherence tomography, indocyanine green angiography, and fluorescein angiography.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the diagnostic characteristics of type 2 (classic) choroidal neovascularizations secondary to age-related macular degeneration using spectral domain-optical coherence tomography (SD OCT), indocyanine green angiography (ICGA), and fluorescein angiography (FA).

DESIGN

Observational case series.

SETTING

Institutional.

STUDY POPULATION: Thirteen treatment-naïve eyes with type 2 choroidal neovascularization without an occult component.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Greatest horizontal dimension, based on the anatomic features of the neovascular complex by SD OCT (Spectralis; Heidelberg Engineering), ICGA, and FA; retinal leakage area in late-phase FA and ICGA; and the area of retinal edema in SD OCT.

OBSERVATION PROCEDURES: For direct comparison, ICGA and FA images were overlaid manually on infrared plus SD OCT images using VirtualDub and Paint.NET software. Greatest horizontal dimension was measured using Image J software (National Institutes of Health).

RESULTS

The mean greatest horizontal dimension of the neovascular complex and the retinal leakage area consistently were smaller on ICGA compared with the area of retinal edema on SD OCT. According to FA, the greatest horizontal dimension of early, well-demarcated hyperfluorescence was significantly smaller than the neovascular complex on SD OCT. In addition, the greatest horizontal dimension of the retinal leakage area in late-phase FA consistently was smaller than the area of retinal edema on SD OCT.

CONCLUSIONS

In classic choroidal neovascularization, ICGA and FA seem to underestimate the extension of the neovascular complex and the associated retinal pathologic features compared with SD OCT imaging.