POLYPOIDAL CHOROIDAL VASCULOPATHY ASSOCIATED WITH CENTRAL SEROUS CHORIORETINOPATHY: Pachychoroid Spectrum of Diseases

Abstract

Purpose: To study multimodal imaging features of polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) associated with central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) in the same eye.

Methods: A retrospective observational study of cases of suspected PCV which underwent indocyanine green angiography, fundus fluorescein angiography and optical coherence tomography was done, to look for simultaneous typical CSC-like active leak in the same eye. The relevant history, best-corrected visual acuity, optical coherence tomography, fundus fluorescein angiography, and indocyanine green angiography findings were analyzed.

Results: From 226 patients reviewed, 195 patients had PCV from which 6 eyes (3.07%) with features of PCV associated with typical CSC-like active leak in the same eye were identified; 3 men and 3 women with a mean age of 62.6 years. Optical coherence tomography showed notched pigment epithelial detachment in two and irregular peaked pigment epithelial detachment in four cases with subretinal fluid and/or subretinal haemorrhage over a thick choroid with dilated outer choroidal vessels. Fundus fluorescein angiography showed stippled hyperfluorescence at polyp area and a separate typical CSC-like active leak-Inkblot in three and Smokestack in three cases. On indocyanine green angiography, multiple polyps were noted with choroidal hyperpermeability in late phase at the site of CSC leak.

Conclusion: The coexistence of PCV with typical CSC-like active leaks and a thick choroid in the same eye simultaneously provides strong evidence that these diseases have an association and support the hypothesis that these conditions may originate from predisposed thick choroid.