title: Ultrastructural features of surgically excised idiopathic subfoveal neovascular membranes.
abstract: The ultrastructural features of three surgically excised idiopathic subfoveal neovascular membranes were examined. Ultrastructural features of the cellular components in the membranes included retinal pigment epithelium, endothelial-lined vascular channels, photoreceptor cells, macrophages, myofibroblasts, glial cells, erythrocytes, and ghost erythrocytes. Extracellular constituents included 200-nm to 250-nm collagen fibrils, 100-nm collagen fibrils and fibrin. The findings in this study are consistent with previously reported findings of subfoveal neovascular membranes in age-related macular degeneration and the ocular histoplasmosis syndrome, with the exception of the presence of basal laminar deposit in membranes from age-related macular degeneration.
authors.affiliation: L. F. Montgomery Eye Pathology Laboratory, Emory Eye Center, Atlanta, Georgia 30322.
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: H E
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Grossniklaus
authors.forename: H M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Lambert
authors.forename: T M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Aaberg
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: L'Hernault
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003094:Collagen / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000648:ultrastructure; D015821:Eye Infections, Fungal / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D005584:Fovea Centralis / Q000601:surgery* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D005654:Fundus Oculi; D006660:Histoplasmosis / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010786:Photoreceptor Cells / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010857:Pigment Epithelium of Eye / Q000648:ultrastructure; D015861:Retinal Neovascularization / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*
chemical_list: D003094:Collagen