Outer retinal tubulation: a novel optical coherence tomography finding.
OBJECTIVE
To describe tubular structures found in the outer retina seen in a variety of retinal disorders.


METHODS
Sixty-nine eyes of 63 patients were examined with spectral-domain optical coherence tomography. Optical coherence tomography C-scans were correlated with their corresponding B-scans. The prevalence, number, size, and shape of the tubular structures were determined.


RESULTS
Branching tubules were identified in the outer retina of 54 patients with age-related macular degeneration and in 9 patients with other diagnoses. The tubules appeared as round or ovoid hyporeflective spaces with hyperreflective borders on the B-scans, measuring 40 to 140 microm high and 40 to 2260 microm wide. Morphologic features ranged from single straight or branching tubules to complex cavitary networks, usually overlying areas of pigment epithelial alteration or subretinal fibrosis. The tubules generally remained stable over time. In a retinal practice specializing in advanced age-related macular degeneration, these structures were identified in 60 of 248 patients (24.2%) seen during a 3-month period.


CONCLUSIONS
Degenerating photoreceptors may become arranged in a circular or ovoid fashion during a process we propose to term outer retinal tubulation. These changes are apparently common in advanced diseases affecting the outer retina and retinal pigment epithelium. This observation has practical implications because these findings can be misinterpreted as intraretinal or subretinal fluid, possibly prompting unnecessary interventions.
Zweifel
Sandrine A
SA
Vitreous Retina Macula Consultants of New York, 460 Park Ave, Fifth Floor, New York, NY 10022. kbfnyf@aol.com.
Engelbert
Michael
M
Laud
Ketan
K
Margolis
Ron
R
Spaide
Richard F
RF
Freund
K Bailey
KB
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D022082:Cellular Structures / Q000473:pathology*; D005122:Exudates and Transudates; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009887:Ophthalmoscopy; D055213:Retinal Pigment Epithelium / Q000473:pathology; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence; D058609:Visual Field Tests