Objective To observe the imaging features of the optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) of complex retinal arterial macroaneurysm (RAM). Methods Nineteen eyes of 19 patients with RAM were enrolled in this retrospective study. There were 1 male (1 eye) and 18 females (18 eyes). The patients aged from 62 to 85 years, with the mean age of 71.3 years. The fundus photography examination revealed the tumors were located in the 1 - 3 branch of the artery, which showed focal spindle-shaped or fusiform angiomatous dilatation. The fundus fluorescein angiography revealed the early uniform fluorescence of the tumor, and the tumor was a high-fluorescence leak in the late period. RAM was divided into exudative type and hemorrhagic type according to the literature and based on the ocular fundus appearance. In 19 eyes, 8 eyes were exudative RAM and 11 eyes were hemorrhagic RAM. All eyes were examined by OCTA, and the retinal blood flow images of 3 mm ×3 mm diameter were routinely collected to observe the OCTA imaging features. Results OCTA examination showed that the superficial RAM of all eyes had strong reflection signal connected with retinal artery. B-scan image showed smaller tumors in the lumen with strong reflection of expansion, or large tumor with peak-like uplift and the blood flow signals in the tumor body were abundant. The enface image clearly showed the three-dimensional shape of the tumor. Tumors with exudation or multi-level bleeding could be clearly documented for their bleeding range and boundary. The white signal co-localized with the superficial retinal blood vessels by the function of multi-color fluoroscopy. The pattern of blood flow density can also clearly show the three-dimensional shape of the tumor. Conclusion The complex RAM is a strong reflection signal in the superficial layer of retina, which is connected with the retinal vessels; B-scan images shows small tumors with a small piece of strong reflection and dilation, or large tumors with mountain-like elevation with abundant blood flow signals. En face image can clearly show the three-dimensional shape of the tumor.
ObjectiveTo observe the changes of macular blood flow density in patients of macular telangiectasis type 1 (Mac-Tel type 1) with macular edema before and after the treatment of anti-VEGF.MethodsA retrospective clinical study. From January 2016 to December 2017, 14 Mac-Tel type 1 patients (14 eyes) diagnosed in Nanjing Medical University Eye Hospital were included in the study. There were 6 males (6 eyes) and 8 females (8 eyes), with the mean age of 35.3±9.3 years. All patients underwent BCVA and OCT angiography examinations. The BCVA examination was performed using the Snellen visual acuity chart, which was converted into logMAR visual acuity. All the patients were received anti-VEGF injection treatment once a month for 3 consecutive months. The OCTA scanning region in the macular area was 3 mm × 3 mm. Macular blood flow density in the superficial capillary plexus (SCP) and deep capillary plexus (DCP), the vessel density within a 300 μm width ring surrounding the foveal avascular area (FD-300) and central macular thickness (CMT) were measured in all eyes. Paired samples t-test and Pearson correlation analysis were used in this study.ResultsAt the baseline, logMAR BCVA was 0.69±0.07, CMT was 468.43±26.59 μm, SCP blood flow density was (50.99±1.19)%, DCP blood flow density was (43.79±1.44)%, FD-300 was (50.73±1.16)%. Compared with the baseline, there were significant differences between logMAR BCVA, CMT, DCP blood flow density and FD-300 in 1 week, 1 month, 3 months after treatment and 2 months after cessation of treatment (logMAR BCVA: t=6.77, 13.30, 16.99, 9.51; P=0.00, 0.01, 0.00, 0.01. CMT: t=6.99, 15.88, 26.10, 6.50; P=0.00, 0.01, 0.01, 0.00. DCP: t=6.75, 8.61, 15.12, 7.63; P=0.00, 0.01, 0.01, 0.00. FD-300: t=11.86, 13.08, 14.36, 4.41; P=0.00, 0.01, 0.01, 0.03). There was no significant difference in blood flow density of SCP between baseline and 2 months after cessation of treatment (t=1.36, P=0.19), but there was significant difference at the other time points after treatment (t=5.50, 6.84, 6.27; P=0.00, 0.01, 0.01). The Pearson's correlation analysis showed that there was a significant positive correlation between FD-300 and CMT (r2=0.54, P=0.04).ConclusionsThere is no significant change in the SCP blood flow density in the patients of Mac-Tel type 1 with macular edema, while the DCP blood flow density decreased and FD-300 increased. After anti-VEGF treatment, DCP blood flow density increased and FD-300 decreased. FD-300 is positively correlated with CMT.
ObjectiveTo observe the OCT angiography (OCTA) imaging features of isolated choroidal hemangioma (CCH).MethodsA retrospective case study. From January 2017 to February 2019, 18 CCH patients (18 eyes) diagnosed in the Affiliated Eye Hospital of Nanjing Medical University were included in the study. There were 13 males (13 eyes) and 5 females (5 eyes), with the mean age of 44.5 years. All the tumors were orange-red, with clear boundaries, located at the posterior pole or around the optic disc. OCTA was used to scan the 6 mm×6 mm of macular area or in the range of 6 mm×6 mm. After automatic image processing, the system provided the blood flow map of shallow capillary plexus, deep capillary plexus, outer retina and choroidal capillary plexus, as well as the corresponding structure en-face image and B-scan image.ResultsOCTA examination found that when the stratification line was adjusted to the periphery of the choroidal capillary layer, the blood flow map showed clear boundary of the tumor, and the blood vessels on the surface of the tumor presented a network crisscross with different thickness. B-scan image showed that the whole layer of retinal choroid at the tumor presented a dome-shaped uplift, and the neurocortical layer could be accompanied by thickening, subretinal effusion, exudation and splitting. En-face image showed that the boundary of the tumor was clear, the surrounding exudation was strong reflection in spots or patches, local pigmentation showed weak reflection, and the signal reflection was uneven.ConclusionOCTA can clearly show the vascular morphology on the surface of CCH.
ObjectiveTo observe the changes in choroidal characteristics of polypoid choroidal vascular disease (PCV) eyes after intravitreal injection of anti-VEGF drugs, and to preliminarily evaluate its predictive effect on the response of PCV anti-VEGF drugs.MethodsA retrospective clinical study. From January 2015 to May 2020, 63 eyes (63 PCV patients) diagnosed in NanJing Medical University Eye Hospital were included in the study. There were 39 eyes (39 males) and 24 eyes (24 females); all were monocular, with the average age of 62.53±6.05 years old. All eyes were treated with intravitreal injection of ranibizumab, and those with poor response after treatment were treated with photodynamic therapy (PDT) combined with anti-VEGF drugs. Among the 63 eyes, 38 eyes did not respond or responded poorly after treatment, and 25 eyes responded well. Based on response results, patients were divided into the poor response group and the good response group. The confocal laser synchronous angiography system (HRA+OCT) enhanced depth scanning technology of Herdelberg (Germany) was used to measure the foveal choroid thickness (SFCT) and the choroidal large vessel thickness (LCVT). The choroidal hyperpermeability (CVH) was judged based on the ICGA inspection results. CVH: In the middle and late stages (10-15 min after indocyanine green injection), the choroid of the posterior pole can be seen with multifocal strong fluorescence with blurred edges. The SFCT and LVCT changes of the two groups of eyes before treatment and 6 months after treatment in the good response group, and 6 months after the treatment of the poor response group combined with PDT were observed. SFCT and LCVT were compared with t test before and after treatment.ResultsBefore treatment, of the 63 eyes, 38 eyes (60.3%) with CVH manifestations, of which 5 eyes (20.0%, 5/25) and 33 eyes (86.8%, 33/ 38). The SFCT and LCVT of the good response group and the poor response group were 244.16±23.74, 152.76±22.70 μm and 367.34±35.21, 271.84±35.42 μm, respectively. The comparison of SFCT and LVCT between the two groups of eyes before treatment showed statistically significant differences (t=7.24, 6.87; P=0.01, 0.01). Six months after treatment, the SFCT and LVCT of the eyes in the good response group were 241.04±32.56 and 150.44±23.45 μm, respectively; compared with those before treatment, the difference was not statistically significant (t=5.35, 8.64; P=0.08, 0.07). Six months after the poor response group combined with PDT treatment, SFCT and LCVT were 311.63±25.36 and 220.11±41.30 μm respectively; compared with those before treatment, the difference was statistically significant (t=6.84, 9.23; P=0.02, 0.01). After treatment, the CVH manifestations of all the eyes did not change significantly, but the eyes of the poor response group were treated with PDT, and the multifocal strong fluorescence was significantly weakened.ConclusionsPCV thick choroid is mostly caused by abnormal thickening of choroidal large vessels. Eyes with thick choroid and CVH have poor response to anti-VEGF drug therapy alone, and combined PDT therapy may be more suitable for this type of patients.
ObjectiveTo observe the imaging characteristics of optical coherence tomography angiography in macular telangiectasia type 2 (Mac-Tel 2). MethodsA retrospective case analysis. From October 2017 to June 2021, 11 patients (22 eyes) diagnosed as Mac-Tel type 2 by multi-modal imaging in Nanjing Medical University Eye Hospital were included in this study. There were 5 males (10 eyes) and 6 females (12 eyes). The age were 41.61±11.32 years old. All patients underwent the examinations of best corrected visual acuity, indirect ophthalmoscope, fundus color photography, fluorescein fundus angiography (FFA), optical coherence tomography (OCT), and OCT angiography (OCTA). The scope of 3 mm × 3 mm in macular area of eyes was scanned by OCTA. After automatic image processing, the system could provide the blood flow image of capillary layer, deep capillary layer, outer retina, choroidal capillary layer, and the B-scan image. The imaging characteristics were observed. ResultsAmong the 22 eyes, 14 eyes were in the early stage of the disease, and 8 eyes had secondary subretinal neovascularization (SRN) and/or choroidal neovascularization (CNV). FFA examination that in the early stage of the disease, the capillaries near the fovea were dilated, the blood vessels were stretched, and the late fluorescence was mainly stained; high-fluorescence leakage was seen when SRN and CNV were developed. OCTA examination showed that in the early stage of the disease, the temporal capillaries in the macular area were dilated and stretched, especially in the deep layer. The capillary space was enlarged, and the right-angled venules were seen to change and infiltrate into the deep layer; when the lesions invaded the outer retina, flower clusters-like SRN were seen; neovascularization was seen in the outer retina and choroidal capillary layer when CNV was developed. B-scan image showed that in the early stage of the disease, irregular weak reflex cavities and lamellar holes change between the neuroepithelial layers; secondary SRN and CNV showed strong little clumpy reflexes accompanied by abundant blood flow signals. ConclusionThe image characteristics of OCTA in the eyes of Mac-Tel 2 were dilated, stretched superficial and deep temporal capillaries in the macula area and right-angled changes in blood vessels.
ObjectiveTo observe the expression levels of related cytokines in the vitreous humor of eyes with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) associated with lattice degeneration (LD). MethodsA clinical observational study. From May 2022 to February 2023, 43 patients of 43 eyes diagnosed with RRD, with or without accompanying LD, who underwent their first pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) at Zhongda Hospital Southeast University and The Affiliated Eye Hospital of Nanjing Medical University were included in the study. The patients were divided into two groups: RRD with LD (LD group), consisting of 27 patients with 27 eyes, and RRD without LD (Non-LD group), consisting of 16 patients with 16 eyes. Additionally, 6 patients (6 eyes) with idiopathic macular holes and 4 patients (4 eyes) with idiopathic epiretinal membranes during the same period were selected as the control group. Before initiating PPV and without intraocular perfusion, a 0.5 ml sample of undiluted vitreous fluid from the central portion was excised and aspirated. The concentrations of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), macrophage inflammatory protein-1 alpha (MIP)-1α, MIP-1β, interferon-γ- inducible protein 10 (IP-10), interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-8, macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF), tumor necrosis factor-alpha-α, interferon-γ, intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1, platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule 1 (PECAM-1), placental growth factor (PLGF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the vitreous fluid were quantitatively measured using the Luminex high-throughput multiplex assay technology. The comparison of cytokine expression levels between groups was performed using the Kruskal-Wallis rank sum test, with significance levels for post-hoc pairwise comparisons adjusted by DSCF methods. ResultsThe eyes of the patients in the LD group, Non-LD group, and control group showed statistically significant differences (P＜0.05) in the concentrations of IL-6 (H=14.400), IL-8 (H=13.610), MCP-1 (H=12.050), VEGF (H=9.920), MIP-1α (H=6.620), IP-10 (H=7.780), MIF (H=12.920), PECAM-1 (H=9.990), ICAM-1 (H=8.070), and PLGF (H=16.850). Upon pairwise comparison between groups, the vitreous fluid concentrations of IL-6, IL-8, and PLGF in the LD group were found to be significantly higher than those in the Non-LD group (P＜0.05). ConclusionThe expression levels of IL-6, IL-8, and PLGF are elevated in the vitreous fluid of eyes with RRD accompanied by LD.