title: Imaging of Melanin Disruption in Age-Related Macular Degeneration Using Multispectral Imaging.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate whether multispectral imaging (MSI) is able to obtain a noninvasive view of melanin disruption associated with age-related macular degeneration (AMD), which could support early diagnosis and potential treatment strategies.
  
  
  METHODS
  A single retinal center, retrospective, observational, image analysis study of MSI images of 43 patients was done to determine the extent of melanin pigment exhibited in association with AMD, based on the Age-Related Eye Disease Study classification and grading scale. Corresponding fundus photos were also graded for 12 of the eyes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifty-one of 61 eyes (84%) of 43 patients with AMD were determined to have melanin disruption in their MSI images in at least the central and/or one of four inner ETDRS areas. There was a relationship between severity of disease and the degree of melanin disruption. The sensitivity of fundus photography for melanin pigment as compared to MSI was only 62.5%, with three false-negatives.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A direct, noninvasive, unobstructed view of melanin disruption associated with AMD can be observed using MSI.
authors.forename: Pravin U
authors.initials: PU
authors.lastname: Dugel
authors.forename: Cheryl N
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Zimmer
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002829:Choroid / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005188:False Negative Reactions; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D057092:Geographic Atrophy / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008543:Melanins / Q000378:metabolism*; D064847:Multimodal Imaging; D061848:Optical Imaging; D010781:Photography; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D055213:Retinal Pigment Epithelium / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence; D057135:Wet Macular Degeneration / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D008543:Melanins