title: Macular hole: 10 and 20-MHz ultrasound and spectral-domain optical coherence tomography.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is valuable for macula evaluation. However, as this technique relies on light energy it cannot be performed in the presence of opaque media. In such cases, the ultrasound (US) may predict some macular features. The aim of this study was to characterize images obtained by ultrasound with 10 and 20-MHz transducers comparing to OCT, as well as to analyze the relationship between the vitreous and retina in eyes with macular hole (MH).
  
  
  METHODS
  29 eyes of 22 patients with biomicroscopic evidence of MH at different stages were included. All patients were evaluated using ultrasonography with 10 and 20-MHz transducers and OCT.
  
  
  RESULTS
  OCT identified signs of MH in 25 of 29 eyes. The remaining 4 cases not identified by US were pseudoholes caused by epiretinal membranes. In MH stages I (2 eyes) and II (1 eye), both transducers were not useful to analyze the macular thickening, but suggestive findings as macular irregularity, operculum or partial posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) were highlighted. In stages III (14 eyes) and IV (5 eyes), both transducers identified the double hump irregularity and thickening. US could measure the macular thickness and other suggestive findings for MH: operculum, vitreomacular traction and partial or complete PVD. In cases of pseudoholes, US identified irregularities macular contour and a discrete depression.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  10-MHz US was useful for an overall assessment of the vitreous body as well as its relationship to the retina. The 20-MHz transducer allowed valuable information on the vitreomacular interface and macular contour. OCT provides superior quality for fine morphological study of macular area, except in cases of opaque media. In these cases, and even if OCT is not available, the combined US study is able to provide a valid evaluation of the macular area improving therapeutic approach.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Universidade Federal de São Paulo - UNIFESP, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Juliana Mantovani
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Bottós
authors.forename: Virginia Laura Lucas
authors.initials: VL
authors.lastname: Torres
authors.forename: Liliane Andrade Almeida
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Kanecadan
authors.forename: Andrea Alejandra Gonzalez
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Martinez
authors.forename: Nilva Simeren Bueno
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Moraes
authors.forename: Mauricio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maia
authors.forename: Norma
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Allemann
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008266:Macula Lutea; D008297:Male; D033401:Microscopy, Acoustic; D008875:Middle Aged; D012160:Retina / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D012167:Retinal Perforations / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence / Q000379:methods*; D014159:Transducers; D014822:Vitreous Body / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D020255:Vitreous Detachment / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology