title: In vivo demonstration of the anatomic differences between classic and occult choroidal neovascularization using optical coherence tomography.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine architectural differences between classic and occult choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in vivo.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective observational case series.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-two patients with acute CNV underwent fluorescein angiography and optical coherence tomography (OCT), which were analyzed by separate blinded observers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 87.5% of angiographically labeled "classic" CNV a discreet subretinal lesion corresponding to the neovascular complex could be seen above and separate to the retinal pigment epithelium on OCT. This was found in only 13.3% of "occult" CNV.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  With the latest commercially available OCT equipment it is now possible to confirm in vivo the previously proposed anatomic differences between fluorescein angiographically labeled classic and occult CNV. Classic CNV appear to grow predominantly in the subretinal space, whereas the majority of occult lesions do not. Optical coherence tomography features of CNV may correlate with response to photodynamic therapy or angiostatic treatments, as well as predicting the success of surgical removal.
authors.affiliation: Retinal Research Unit, King's College Hospital, Denmark Hill, London SE5 9RS, England.
authors.forename: Edward H
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Hughes
authors.forename: Jaheed
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: Nishal
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.forename: Shahram
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kashani
authors.forename: N Victor
authors.initials: NV
authors.lastname: Chong
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002829:Choroid / Q000473:pathology; D020256:Choroidal Neovascularization / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003941:Diagnostic Techniques, Ophthalmological; D005110:Extracellular Space; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010857:Pigment Epithelium of Eye / Q000473:pathology; D010865:Pilot Projects; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence / Q000379:methods*