[Indentation of retinal pigment epithelium in polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy detected by retro-mode (scanning laser ophthalmoscopy)].

PURPOSE: To detect by Retro-mode (RM) imaging the nature and frequency of vascular indentation of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) due to polypoidal vessels and vascular networks in polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV).

DESIGN

Retrospective cross-sectional study.

PATIENTS AND

METHODS

Thirty eyes of 29 Japanese patients with PCV diagnosed by ophthalmoscopy and indocyanine green angiography (IA) were retrospectively analyzed by RM imaging. We evaluated the ratio of detection of polypoidal and network vessels in PCV by RM, the main causes hindering vascular indentation of the RPE, and the relationship of the findings in IA(late phase) to RM imaging.

RESULTS

In 13 out of the 30 eyes (43.3%) all of the polypoidal vessels of PCV were identified by RM imaging, whereas in 8 eyes (26.7%) only one part could be identified and none could be identified in the remaining 9 eyes (30%). Network vessels were detected completely in 15 eyes (50%), and partially in 5 eyes (16.7%)whereas none could be detected in the remaining 10 eyes (30.3%). In many cases the main causes of the hindered vascular indentation of the RPE were either serous retinal detachment and/or cystoid macular edema; fibrin, hemorrhagic pigment epithelial detachment, subretinal hemorrhages and pigment epithelial atrophy were also seen. Regarding the relationship of the findings of network vessels in IA (late phase) to RM imaging, RM imaging was superior or of equal value in finding network vessels in 14 (46.7%)of the 30 eyes.

CONCLUSIONS

RM imaging detected polypoidal vessels and network vessels of PCV as vascular indentations of the RPE.