Optical coherence tomography and optical coherence tomography angiography in systemic disease

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Medical Imaging
• Systemic Disease Diagnosis

Background:

• Optical coherence tomography (OCT) and OCT angiography (OCTA) are increasingly used in ophthalmology.
• Systemic diseases often have detectable manifestations on OCT and OCTA.
• These imaging modalities offer a noninvasive window into systemic health.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review how various systemic diseases manifest on OCT and OCTA.
• To highlight the diagnostic and monitoring potential of OCT and OCTA for systemic conditions.
• To identify current limitations and future research needs in the field.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of studies reporting systemic disease findings on OCT and OCTA.
• Analysis of manifestations across cardiovascular, neurodegenerative, neoplastic, infectious, and autoimmune diseases.
• Synthesis of current evidence on the utility of OCT and OCTA in systemic disease.

Main Results:

• OCT and OCTA findings are associated with a wide range of systemic diseases.
• These imaging techniques show promise for early diagnosis and tracking disease progression.
• Evidence suggests OCT and OCTA can aid in monitoring treatment response.

Conclusions:

• OCT and OCTA are valuable tools for detecting and monitoring systemic diseases.
• Further research with standardized protocols and larger cohorts is needed.
• These imaging modalities are poised to play a significant role in noninvasive systemic disease management.