Swept-source optical coherence tomography features of choroidal nevi

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Medical Imaging
• Oncology

Background:

• Choroidal nevi are common melanocytic tumors of the posterior uvea.
• Accurate morphologic characterization is crucial for monitoring and differentiating from melanoma.
• Optical coherence tomography (OCT) has advanced imaging capabilities in ophthalmology.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the detailed morphologic characteristics of choroidal nevi using swept-source OCT (SS-OCT).
• To compare the imaging capabilities of SS-OCT with enhanced-depth imaging OCT (EDI-OCT) for choroidal nevi.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective observational case series of 30 patients with choroidal nevi.
• Imaging performed using both SS-OCT and EDI-OCT.
• Analysis focused on intralesional features, choriocapillaris, nevus-scleral interface, and secondary retinal changes.

Main Results:

• SS-OCT visualized intralesional vessels in 100% of nevi, cavities in 20%, and granularity in 47%.
• Abnormal choriocapillaris was noted in 83% of nevi.
• SS-OCT demonstrated superior visualization of intralesional vessels, granularity, and abnormal choriocapillaris in melanotic lesions compared to EDI-OCT.

Conclusions:

• SS-OCT provides detailed intralesional insights into choroidal nevi, including vascularization.
• SS-OCT is significantly better than EDI-OCT for characterizing melanotic choroidal nevi.
• Distended bordering vessels, seen in 73% of nevi, were associated with subretinal fluid.