[Optical Coherence Tomography in Disorders of the Central Nervous System]

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Ophthalmology
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Retinal changes and visual symptoms are key indicators in various central nervous system (CNS) disorders, including inflammatory, degenerative, and tumorous conditions.
• Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a non-invasive imaging technique that provides high-resolution retinal images, enabling precise measurement of retinal layer thickness and volume.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the current understanding of OCT parameters in diagnosing and monitoring CNS disorders.
• To explore the role of OCT in assessing visual symptoms and predicting outcomes in neurological conditions.

Main Methods:

• The review synthesizes findings from studies utilizing OCT to examine retinal layers, specifically the ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (GCIPL) and peripapillary retinal nerve fibre layer (pRNFL).
• Analysis focuses on OCT's application in acute optic neuritis (ON) and multiple sclerosis (MS), as well as emerging uses in neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson's disease, ALS, and dementia.

Main Results:

• OCT can detect pRNFL swelling in acute ON, aiding diagnosis and predicting visual recovery based on GCIPL thinning.
• In MS, even without a history of ON, thinning of pRNFL and GCIPL is observed, correlating with neurodegeneration, disability progression, cognitive deficits, and disease activity.
• OCT shows potential in neurodegenerative diseases, but its clinical utility for diagnosis and prognosis is still under investigation.

Conclusions:

• OCT is a valuable tool for evaluating retinal changes associated with CNS disorders, offering diagnostic and prognostic insights.
• Further research is needed to fully establish the clinical role of OCT in the management of neurodegenerative diseases.