Sequential Optical Coherence Tomography Images of Retinal Necrosis in Acute Ocular Toxoplasmosis

Abstract

Optical coherence tomography may be useful in characterizing the features, extent, and location of retinitis caused by T. gondii. Specific OCT features may indicate whether the infection is acute phase or becoming quiescent.

Single Acquisition of the Vitreous, Retina and Choroid With Swept-Source Optical Coherence Tomography in Acute Toxoplasmosis

“…It also demonstrated the same overlying vitreous cells and thickened posterior hyaloid; and interestingly, prior to the posterior hyaloid separating, these inflammatory cells were seen emanating from the retinal vessels ( Figure 2B loss of retinal tissue including the outer photoreceptor layers, and distortion of the retinal architecture likely representing the progression from acute retinitis to liquefactive necrosis. 1 Although SD-OCT and SS-OCT both showed similar findings, the increased depth and width imaged with 12-mm A-scans provided a better view of the entire posterior pole including the fovea, optic nerve head, and nasal retinal lesion laterally; and the choroid, retina, and vitreous axially (Figure 3, B and C).…”

“…The posterior segment findings in ocular toxoplasmosis have been well described using SD-OCT. 1,3,6 During the acute phase, multiple hyper-reflective dots are found in the vitreous cavity. Vitreous inflammation often accompanies these necrotizing chorioretinitic lesions in acute ocular toxoplasmosis, and SD-OCT has been suggested as a non-invasive, objective tool to quantify the amount of vitreous inflammation.…”

“…These tachyzoites are initially controlled by the host's immune system and remain latent until rupture, which triggers their release and subsequent inflammation and cell death. 1 The most common acute ocular manifestation of T. gondii is focal chorioretinal necrosis with vitreous inflammation. 2 Typically occurring as a reactivation adjacent to an inactive chorioretinal scar or a new focal area of the retinitis, these lesions usually heal over several months and leave a quiescent, hyperpigmented chorioretinal scar.…”

“…2 Typically occurring as a reactivation adjacent to an inactive chorioretinal scar or a new focal area of the retinitis, these lesions usually heal over several months and leave a quiescent, hyperpigmented chorioretinal scar. 1 Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT), which achieves an axial resolution of 7 mm, has been used to study the morphological features of the vitreous, retina, and choroid seen in acute toxoplasmosis chorioretinitis. 3 With advances in high-resolution imaging, eye-tracking and averaging, imaging, diagnosis, and monitoring of acute diseases can be done repeatedly over time.…”

Recent Developments in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Ocular Toxoplasmosis

“…Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) imaging is an important diagnostic tool to identify the morphological features of the vitreoretinal changes in ocular toxoplasmosis [39,40,41]. The stage of the disease is determinant for the SD-OCT findings of chorioretinal lesions.…”