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Purpose : To evaluate polyps and branching vascular networks (BVNs) of polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) using B-scan images of optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA).
Methods : This retrospective case study collected the data of consecutive patients with treatment-naïve PCV. All the patients underwent indocyanine green angiography (ICGA) and swept source OCTA (PLEX Elite 9000, Zeiss). On the B-scan OCTA images, polyps were defined as ring- or round-like flow signals inside the highly peaked pigment epithelial detachment (PED), beneath PED notch, or in accordance with ring-like OCT structures. BVNs were defined as flow signals in lower elevation of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). The number of polyps and the presence of BVNs were evaluated on B-scan OCTA and ICGA. The locations of polyps on B-scan OCTA were also evaluated.
Results : A total of 21 eyes of 21 patients were included in this study. Twenty of 21 eyes showed the flow signals of polyps on the B-scan OCTA images. The mean number of polyps per eye was 2.3 (range, 0-6) on B-scan OCTA images, and 1.9 (range, 1-6) on ICGA images. Compared to the number of the polyps counted on ICGA images, the number of the polyps per eye on B-scan OCTA images was more in 10 eyes (47.6%), equivalent in 8 eyes (38.1%), and less in 3 eyes (14.3%). On ICGA, the BVNs were detected in 20 eyes, whereas the flow signals of BVNs on B-scan OCTA images were detected in 18 eyes. The B-scan OCTA images showed that 21 of 49 polyps (42.9%) were sandwiched with the RPE and the Bruch’s membrane in the relatively solid PED, and 27 of 49 polyps (55.1%) were detached from Bruch’s membrane with serous PED.
Conclusion : The detection of polyps with B-scan OCTA images was as useful as that with ICGA images.
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