Spectral-Domain Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography Findings in Multifocal Choroiditis With Active Lesions

To describe optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) findings in multifocal choroiditis (MFC) with active lesions and to characterize the concordance between the OCTA and other traditional imaging modalities.

Reliability and validity analysis.

Patients with suspected choroidal neovascularization (CNV) or acute inflammatory lesions associated with MFC were assessed in this study. All participants underwent preliminary traditional multimodal imaging including color fundus photography, fundus autofluorescence, near-infrared reflectance imaging, spectral-domain optical coherence tomography, and fluorescence angiography (FA). The participants were prospectively recruited to perform OCTA. OCTA findings of active lesions were compared with other traditional imaging results. Vascular flow signal representing CNV was identified, and a quantitative analysis of CNV size was performed on OCTA.

Fifty-two eyes of 26 MFC patients (14 were bilaterally affected and 12 were unilaterally affected) were included. Among the 23 active CNV cases, 20 were confirmed on OCTA while the other 3 were invalid owing to severe motion artifacts. OCTA of CNV showed a well-circumscribed vascular network (mean flow area, 0.271 mm(2) [± 0.144 mm(2)]). Among the 34 inflammatory lesions in 13 eyes, 32 showed no blood flow in the outer retina on OCTA while the other 2 showed blood flow signal.

OCTA has a predominant advantage in differentiating CNV from inflammatory lesions. It also allows the visualization of detailed vascular structure of CNV and the function of flow area measurement realizes the quantitative analysis of CNV. Hence, it could be an alternative option for CNV identification and may better guide treatment.