Correlation of optical coherence tomography and fundus fluorescein angiography following photodynamic therapy for choroidal neovascular membranes.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the correlation between optical coherence tomography (OCT) and leakage on fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA) following photodynamic therapy (PDT) with verteporfin for choroidal neovascularisation (CNV).


METHODS
Retrospective comparative observational case series of patients who were treated with PDT for CNV from one centre. All patients had 3 monthly FFA and OCT following initial PDT to assess if further treatment was required. A pair of FFA and OCT images from the same visit at a random follow up date were taken from each patient's series and assessed separately by different observers. The presence of pigment epithelial detachment, subretinal fluid, vitreomacular traction, intraretinal fluid, absence of foveal depression, and the retinal thickness on OCT were correlated with presence of leaks on FFA.


RESULTS
A total of 121 eyes of 121 patients were included. The presence of subretinal fluid, gross cystoid macular oedema, sponge-like retinal thickening and retinal thickness of more than 350 mum on OCT correlated well with leak on FFA (p value <0.01). The likelihood ratios were 3.0, 5.7, 2.7, and 3.6, respectively. The presence of a solitary foveal cyst did not correlate well with leaks on FFA.


CONCLUSIONS
The presence of subretinal fluid, intraretinal fluid in the form of gross cystoid macular oedema, or sponge-like retinal thickening, or a retinal thickness more than 350 mum correlates with leaks on FFA and so suggests the need for repeat PDT.
Department of Ophthalmology, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Queen Victoria Road, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 4LP, UK.
A
A
Van de Moere
S S
SS
Sandhu
S J
SJ
Talks
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D020256:Choroidal Neovascularization / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005122:Exudates and Transudates; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D006801:Humans; D008134:Long-Term Care / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010778:Photochemotherapy; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011166:Porphyrins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012008:Recurrence; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence; D000077362:Verteporfin
D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; D011166:Porphyrins; D000077362:Verteporfin