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Artifact Rates for 2D Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Thickness Versus 3D Neuroretinal Rim Thickness Using Spectral-Domain
Elli A Park1, Edem Tsikata2, Jenny Jyoung Lee3
1Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA.
Translational Vision Science & Technology
|September 25, 2020
Summary
Three-dimensional (3D) optic nerve volume scans show fewer clinically significant artifacts than two-dimensional retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness scans in spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) for glaucoma patients.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Medical Imaging
- Glaucoma Research
Background:
- Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) is crucial for diagnosing glaucoma.
- Assessing artifact rates in SD-OCT scans is vital for accurate glaucoma diagnosis and monitoring.
- Retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness is a common diagnostic metric, but its susceptibility to artifacts is a concern.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the frequency of clinically significant artifacts between 2D RNFL thickness scans and 3D neuroretinal rim thickness scans using SD-OCT.
- To evaluate the reliability of different SD-OCT measurement approaches in glaucoma patients and normal subjects.
Main Methods:
- A comparative analysis was conducted on 120 glaucoma patients and 114 normal subjects, with one eye analyzed per patient.
- Artifacts were quantified across 15 types per B-scan and per eye for both RNFL and optic nerve scans.
- Clinically significant artifacts, defined as those requiring manual correction or repeat scans, were assessed for both measurement types.
Main Results:
- Glaucomatous eyes exhibited significantly higher artifact rates per B-scan in RNFL scans (61.7%) compared to 3D neuroretinal rim volume scans (20.9%).
- Clinically significant artifact rates per eye were substantially lower in optic nerve scans (15.8% glaucoma, 13.2% normal) than in RNFL scans (61.7% glaucoma, 25.4% normal).
- These differences were statistically significant across both glaucoma and normal groups (P < 0.0001 and P = 0.03, respectively).
Conclusions:
- Three-dimensional optic nerve volume scans are less prone to clinically significant artifacts than traditional 2D RNFL thickness scans.
- Optic nerve volume scans require less manual correction or repeat scanning, potentially improving the efficiency and accuracy of glaucoma assessment.
- The findings highlight the potential of 3D OCT algorithms to enhance in vivo imaging and diagnostic capabilities in glaucoma.
