Peripheral and macular polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy: A retrospective comparative case series

To compare clinical and imaging features and treatment outcomes between eyes having peripheral polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) and macular PCV.

In this retrospective comparative case series, confirmed cases of peripheral and macular PCV cases on indocyanine green angiography (ICGA) were included. The various demographic features, imaging characteristics and clinical course between cases with peripheral and macular PCV were compared and analysed.

Fifteen eyes of 12 patients and 22 eyes of 20 patients were diagnosed with peripheral PCV and macular PCV respectively based on polyps seen on ICGA. Mean age at presentation in peripheral and macular PCV groups were 76.3 ± 8.78 and 69.1 ± 8.64 years respectively (p = 0.038). Mean logMAR visual acuity in the peripheral and macular PCV group was 0.423 ± 0.568 and 0.535 ± 0.513 respectively (p = 0.595). Peripheral subretinal hemorrhage was noted commonly in the peripheral PCV group (n = 10, 66%) and hard exudates were common in the macular PCV (19, 86%) group. Subfoveal choroid was significantly thinner in peripheral PCV group compared to macular PCV group (215.2 ± 39.94 vs 283.3 ± 50.08; p = 0.001). At final follow-up visit, 50% eyes (n = 11) in macular PCV group were still active and 87% (n = 13) eyes in the peripheral PCV showed an inactive disease (p = 0.035).

Peripheral and macular PCV cases are two separate clinical entities having distinct pathogenesis, clinical and imaging features and treatment outcomes. Further studies are needed for understanding the pathomechanism in these distinct disease entities.