Optical Coherence Tomography Features of Choroidal Neovascularization and Their Correlation With Age, Gender, and Underlying Disease

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the influence of age, gender, and underlying disease on the optical coherence tomography (OCT) features of choroidal neovascularization (CNV) secondary to inflammation, myopia (mCNV), and age-related macular degeneration (AMD-CNV). Methods: Demographic and clinical data of eyes with treatment-naive inflammatory CNV, mCNV, and Type 2 AMD-CNV were collected. Optical coherence tomography images were reviewed to determine the presence of pitchfork sign, pigment epithelial detachment, subretinal fluid (SRF), intraretinal cysts, subretinal hyperreflective material, atrophy, and outer retinal disruption graded 1 to 4. The influence of demographics and underlying etiology on OCT signs was investigated. Results: One hundred and eighty-five eyes from 179 patients were enrolled. The mean [SD] age was 36 [±14.4], 62 [±18], and 77 [±8] for the inflammatory CNV, mCNV, and AMD-CNV, respectively (P < 0.001). Multiple linear regression showed that the presence of pitchfork sign was negatively associated with age (P < 0.0001), regardless of underlying disease. By contrast, the SRF, pigment epithelial detachment, intraretinal cysts, and the outer retinal disruption were all positively influenced by age, regardless of gender and underlying disease (all P < 0.01). Logistic regression showed that none of the OCT signs increased the likelihood for diagnosis of inflammatory CNV. By contrast, the absence of SRF was suggestive for mCNVs, and the presence of pigment epithelial detachment and SRF was suggestive for AMD-CNVs. Conclusion: The age of the patient had a significant effect on the OCT appearance of the CNV, particularly the presence of a pitchfork sign, regardless of the underlying etiology. The absence of SRF was suggestive for a diagnosis of mCNVs. The presence of SRF and pigment epithelial detachment was suggestive for AMD-CNVs.

Pitchfork sign following pars Plana vitrectomy for idiopathic epiretinal membrane: A case report

“…European Journal of Ophthalmology 34 (3) the presence of the pitchfork sign in non-inflammatory conditions such as myopia and AMD. 17 In contrast, this case report presents a novel observation of the pitchfork sign, being the first to demonstrate its presence in association with iatrogenic damage to both the retina and RPE following PPV with ERM peeling surgery.…”

“…Subsequently, in 2021, Zicarelli et al further supported these findings by describing the presence of the pitchfork sign in non-inflammatory conditions such as myopia and AMD. 17…”

Retinal clinical and morphofunctional changes in high myopia in combination with age-related macular degeneration of different stages

“…Участки ГА с выраженной гипоаутофлуоресценцией выявлены у 23 % (10 человек, 17 глаз), среди которых унифокальные области ГА были у 8 % (3 человека, 6 глаз), мультифокальные области ГА -у 15 % (7 человек, 11 глаз). Данные изменения были описаны в работах других авторов [20][21][22][28][29][30].…”

“…Достаточно исчерпывающую и точную информацию о состоянии сетчатки нам дает оптическая когерентная томография (ОКТ) [16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23]. Однако исследований, которые посвящены использованию ОКТ с аутофлуоресценцией (АФ) глазного дна при сочетании миопии высокой степени с разными стадиями ВМД, практически нет [24][25][26][27][28].…”

Optical Coherence Tomography Findings of Underlying Choroidal Neovascularization in Punctate Inner Choroidopathy

“…A significant proportion of patients with PIC and multifocal choroiditis are at high risk of developing significant vision loss due to the development of CNV (5,6,11,12,(15)(16)(17)(18). Over the years, OCTA has shown advantages in non-invasive imaging of CNV in various conditions, such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD), myopia, and uveitis (12,15,(19)(20)(21)(22)(23).…”