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. 2012:2012:542417.
doi: 10.1155/2012/542417. Epub 2012 Aug 30.

En Face OCT Imaging for the Diagnosis of Outer Retinal Tubulations in Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Benjamin Wolff  1 , Alexandre Matet, Vivien Vasseur, José-Alain Sahel, Martine Mauget-Faÿsse
Affiliations

En Face OCT Imaging for the Diagnosis of Outer Retinal Tubulations in Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Benjamin Wolff et al. J Ophthalmol. 2012.

Abstract

Purpose. "En face" is an emerging imaging technique derived from spectral domain optical coherence tomography (OCT). It produces frontal sections of retinal layers, also called "C-scan OCT." Outer retinal tubulations (ORTs) in age-related macular degeneration (AMD) are a recent finding evidenced by spectral-domain OCT. The aim of this study is to characterize the morphology of ORT according to the form of AMD, using "en-face" spectral domain OCT. Methods. "En face" OCT imaging was prospectively performed in 26 consecutive eyes with AMD that also had ORT. Results. There were 15 neovascular, 8 atrophic, and 3 eyes with a mixed (fibrotic and atrophic) form of AMD. Among the neovascular group, the most frequent tubulation pattern on "en-face" OCT was a branching network emanating from a fibrovascular scar; we term this pattern as "pseudodendritic." It did not require treatment when observed as an isolated finding. In all cases of atrophic AMD, the tubular network was located at the edge of the geographic atrophy area, and formed a "perilesional" pattern. Six atrophic cases showed tubular invaginations inside this area. Conclusion. "En face" OCT is a valuable technique in the diagnosis and followup of macular disease. It revealed the main characteristic patterns of ORT associated with neovascular and atrophic AMD.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
ORT (arrows) located above a fibrovascular scar (arrows heads). A branching network is observed emanating from hyper reflective the fibrovascular scar with numerous ramifications (or “pseudodendritic” pattern) is observed with “en face” OCT (a). Corresponding B-scan (b) demonstrates multiples ORT.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Tubular (arrows) pattern of ORT located above a fibro-vascular scar, observed with “en face” OCT (a). Corresponding B-scan OCT (b).
Figure 3
Figure 3
ORT (arrows) associated with intraretinal cystoid cavities (arrow heads) in the case of a fibro-vascular scar, observed with “en face” OCT (a). Corresponding B-scan OCT (b).
Figure 4
Figure 4
ORT observed with “en face” OCT in a case of geographic atrophy (a). ORTs follow a circular pattern associated with invaginations (arrows) inside the atrophic zone. Corresponding B-scan OCT (b).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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