title: Spectral domain optical coherence tomography findings in patients with retinitis pigmentosa.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To report the morphological macular findings detected by spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) and to determine their prevalence in patients with retinitis pigmentosa (RP).
  
  
  METHODS
  SD-OCT scans of 176 eyes from 90 patients affected by RP were reviewed. A careful evaluation was carried out on photoreceptor inner/outer segment (IS/OS) junction, external limiting membrane (ELM), inner limiting membrane thickening (ILMT), epiretinal membranes (ERMs), retinal micropseudocysts (MPCs), cystoid macular edema (CME), macular holes (MHs) and choroidal neovascularization (CNV).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The photoreceptor IS/OS junction was absent in the foveal region of 24 eyes (13.6%) and disrupted in 84 eyes (47.7%). The ELM was absent in 24 eyes (13.6%), whereas the ILMT was found in 118 eyes (67%). The presence of an ERM was detected in 48 eyes (27.3%). Some sort of vitreomacular alteration (ILMT and/or ERM) was identifiable in a total of 94.3% of eyes with RP. The presence of MPCs was detected in 32 eyes (18.2%). An evident CME was found in 22 eyes (12.5%). We also found MHs in 8 eyes (4.5%) and CNV in 3 eyes (1.7%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data indicate that RP is associated with alterations of many retinal layers. In particular, the vitreoretinal interface is affected in 94% of patients, and MPC can be identified in 18% of eyes. SD-OCT may contribute to the understanding of the pathophysiological mechanism involved in RP.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Giacinto
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Triolo
authors.forename: Luisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pierro
authors.forename: Maurizio Battaglia
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Parodi
authors.forename: Umberto
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: De Benedetto
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gagliardi
authors.forename: Maria Pia
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Manitto
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bandello
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D019773:Epiretinal Membrane / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055211:Retinal Photoreceptor Cell Inner Segment / Q000473:pathology; D055214:Retinal Photoreceptor Cell Outer Segment / Q000473:pathology; D012174:Retinitis Pigmentosa / Q000473:pathology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult