Novel observations in choroidal osteoma by multispectral imaging: a pilot case series

To identify novel tumor-specific features of ossification by using multispectral imaging (MSI) in patients diagnosed with choroidal osteoma.

Six eyes of 5 patients previously diagnosed with choroidal osteoma by ocular ultrasonography and orbital computerized tomography were observed with multispectral imaging (MSI). Traditional multimodal imaging, including color fundus photograph (CFP) and enhanced depth-imaging-optical coherence tomography (EDI-OCT), fundus autofluorescence (FAF), indocyanine green angiography/fundus fluorescein angiography (ICGA/FFA), was performed. Osseous features detected by MSI such as calcification and decalcification were characterized and compared with other imaging modalities.

In all 3 eyes with calcified choroidal osteoma (100%), MSI featured by the homogeneous reflectance in 550 nm but the beehive appearance in 600-680 nm and homogenous hyper-reflectance in 780-850 nm', indicating the compact bone in the outer layers and bone trabecula in the middle layer (Sandwich sign). The pigmentary change showed high agreement between MSI and FAF. In other 3 eyes with extensive decalcification, MSI was able to differentiate the inactive portion of the osteoma from the decalcified area. The inactive portion was characterized by geographic hyper-reflective islands with higher reflectivity border (floating island sign). Decalcified portion was featured by increased definition and reflectivity from osteoma. Partial decalcification and total decalcification can be differentiated in one decalcifying eye (33.3%). MSI revealed better the presence and border of the osteoma compared with FFA, FAF and MC (100%) in all six eyes in our study.

MSI presented characteristic osseous-related features of choroidal osteoma, providing clear evidence for differentiating osteoblastic and osteoclastic regions and noncalcifying regions. It can contribute to en-face visualization of choroidal osteomas at different stages, providing new insight into the spectrum behavior of CO.