Detecting congenital chiasmal misrouting using multichannel VEPs: protocol for a scoping review

We present the protocol of a prospective scoping review which aims to understand how multi-channel visual evoked potentials (mcVEPs) are used to investigate congenital chiasmal misrouting and what outcomes are measured, interpreted and reported.

mcVEPs are used for the objective evaluation of chiasmal misrouting, which is characterized by a crossed asymmetry in the distribution of cortical responses over each hemisphere during monocular stimulation, and is often observed in patients with albinism. The application and analysis of mcVEPs varies across centers, creating a need to explore the range of practice regarding their conduct and reporting and to identify potential areas for adaptation or optimization or guidelines for specific populations.

Peer reviewed and grey literature on the use of mcVEP to detect chiasmal misrouting in humans with non-acquired pathologies will be considered. All literature providing details of mcVEP methodology for replication and specification of chiasmal misrouting will be included for review.

Searches will be conducted using MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane and Web of Science with the expertise of a librarian. The search will be conducted with no limitation on time period, but will be restricted to the Latin alphabet. Titles and abstracts will be screened by two investigators with conflicts resolved by a third investigator. Included articles will proceed with data extraction on study details including methodology, design, and outcomes. The results will be synthesized and mapped for logical understanding.