[Indocyanine green infrared fluorescence angiography and histopathological correlation in experimental choroidal...

We performed an experimental study on choroidal circulatory disturbance to clarify basic problems about interpretation of retino-choroidal lesions in indocyanine green fluorescence angiography (ICG angiography). We severed the posterior ciliary arteries to produce choroidal circulatory disturbance. Fluorescein angiography and ICG angiography were performed at one week, and one month after occlusion. These findings were compared with histopathological findings. One week after occlusion, the area of choroidal infarct showed occlusion of choriocapillaris and proliferation of the retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells, this area showed hypofluorescence in the early phase ICG angiography. The hypofluorescence area increased in the late phase. One month after occlusion, the lesion showed loss of choriocapillaris at the center and proliferation of fibroblast-like cells at the edge of the lesion. The subretinal strand showed hyperfluorescence in late phase ICG angiography. Proliferated RPE cells masked ICG fluorescence in the late phase. Fibroblast-like cells showed tissue staining. When reading ICG angiography, we have to take into account that the ICG angiogram is greatly modified by condition of the RPE.