Quantitative OCT Angiography Evaluation of Peripapillary Retinal Circulation after Plaque Brachytherapy

To study peripapillary retinal capillary circulation in eyes treated with I-125 plaque brachytherapy for uveal melanoma using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA).

Cross-sectional study of 10 subjects imaged with OCTA prior to uveal melanoma treatment and 15 subjects imaged after development of radiation retinopathy and/or optic neuropathy.

Following IRB approval, subjects were enrolled from an academic ocular oncology clinical practice. All subjects had uveal melanoma in one eye and treatment with I-125 plaque brachytherapy was planned or had previously taken place. Patients with low vision at baseline and uncontrolled hypertension were excluded. In the post-treatment group, seven subjects were male and eight were female; age range 38 to 81 years. Visual acuities in the irradiated eyes ranged from 20/20 to counting fingers. Visual acuities in the untreated fellow eyes were 20/25 or better.

Peripapillary retinal capillary circulation was measured by OCTA (Optovue, Inc). 4.5×4.5 mm optic disc scans were obtained. 10 subjects were imaged prior to brachytherapy treatment and 15 subjects were imaged after development of clinically apparent radiation retinopathy and/or radiation optic neuropathy post-brachytherapy.

The relationship of the peripapillary retinal capillary density (PPCD) as measured by OCTA to the calculated dose to the optic nerve (D50, the dose to 50% of the disc) and the LogMAR vision was evaluated.

No significant difference was seen in the PPCD as measured by OCTA when comparing the eye with melanoma to the fellow eye prior to brachytherapy; however the PPCD was significantly lower in treated eyes (52.9% +/- 22.4%) than in fellow eyes that did not receive radiation (73.3% +/- 13.7%, p = 0.004). There was an inverse linear correlation between D50 and the PPCD (Pearson's; r= -0.528, P=0.043) and between visual acuity and the PPCD (Pearson's; r= -0.564, P=0.028).

Among patients with clinically apparent radiation retinopathy and/or radiation optic neuropathy, PPCD was lower in the treated eye and correlated with the radiation dose to the optic nerve and the visual acuity. OCTA provides a measure of capillary changes following radiation, and may serve as a quantitative endpoint to address visual prognosis.