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

Purpose: To analyze findings on optical coherence tomography (OCT) suggestive of choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in lesions of punctate inner choroidopathy (PIC).Methods: In this multi-center retrospective study, clinical data of patients with PIC were retrospectively analyzed. Quantitative data (height, width, and volume of PIC lesions), and qualitative data (disruption of ellipsoid zone (EZ)/Bruch's membrane (BM), outer retinal fuzziness, and choroidal back-shadowing) were compared between CNV+ and CNV- groups using Mann-Whitney U-test and Fischer's exact test.Results: In total, 35 eyes (29 patients; 21 women; mean age: 33.3 +/- 6.5 years) were selected for analysis. Of the 35 PIC lesions studied, 17 had underlying CNV. Lesions with CNV+ had larger height, width, and volume (p < 0.001) and several distinctive features, such as disruption of EZ and BM, outer retinal fuzziness, and hypo-reflective back-shadowing (p < 0.001) compared with CNV-lesions.Conclusions: Quantitative and qualitative OCT analysis can aid in the prediction of an underlying CNV in the eyes with PIC.

Automated summary

This study analyzed OCT findings in PIC eyes suggestive of CNV, showing that quantitative and qualitative OCT analysis can help predict the presence of CNV in these eyes. Lesions with CNV+ had larger dimensions and distinct features compared to CNV- lesions.