title: The APOSTEL recommendations for reporting quantitative optical coherence tomography studies.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To develop consensus recommendations for reporting of quantitative optical coherence tomography (OCT) study results.
  
  
  METHODS
  A panel of experienced OCT researchers (including 11 neurologists, 2 ophthalmologists, and 2 neuroscientists) discussed requirements for performing and reporting quantitative analyses of retinal morphology and developed a list of initial recommendations based on experience and previous studies. The list of recommendations was subsequently revised during several meetings of the coordinating group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We provide a 9-point checklist encompassing aspects deemed relevant when reporting quantitative OCT studies. The areas covered are study protocol, acquisition device, acquisition settings, scanning protocol, funduscopic imaging, postacquisition data selection, postacquisition data analysis, recommended nomenclature, and statistical analysis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Advised Protocol for OCT Study Terminology and Elements recommendations include core items to standardize and improve quality of reporting in quantitative OCT studies. The recommendations will make reporting of quantitative OCT studies more consistent and in line with existing standards for reporting research in other biomedical areas. The recommendations originated from expert consensus and thus represent Class IV evidence. They will need to be regularly adjusted according to new insights and practices.
authors.affiliation: From the Multiple Sclerosis Center (A.C.-H., P.V., A.J.G.), Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco; Departments of Neurology and Ophthalmology (L.J.B., A.P.), VU University Medical Centre, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin (T.O., F.P., A.U.B.), NeuroCure Clinical Research Center; Department of Neurology (T.O., F.P., A.U.B.), Experimental and Clinical Research Center, Max Delbrueck Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany; Department of Neurology (S.S., P.C.), Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD; Center of Neuroimmunology and Department of Neurology (E.H.M.-L., P.V.), Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Hospital Clinic of Barcelona, Spain; Eye Center (W.A.L.), University Medical Center, Freiburg, Germany; Departments of Ophthalmology (J.S.S.) and Neurology (L.B.), New York University School of Medicine, New York; Moorfields Eye Hospital and The National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery (A.P.), London, UK; and Department of Neurology (P.A.), Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf, Germany.
authors.forename: Andrés
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cruz-Herranz
authors.affiliation: From the Multiple Sclerosis Center (A.C.-H., P.V., A.J.G.), Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco; Departments of Neurology and Ophthalmology (L.J.B., A.P.), VU University Medical Centre, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin (T.O., F.P., A.U.B.), NeuroCure Clinical Research Center; Department of Neurology (T.O., F.P., A.U.B.), Experimental and Clinical Research Center, Max Delbrueck Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany; Department of Neurology (S.S., P.C.), Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD; Center of Neuroimmunology and Department of Neurology (E.H.M.-L., P.V.), Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Hospital Clinic of Barcelona, Spain; Eye Center (W.A.L.), University Medical Center, Freiburg, Germany; Departments of Ophthalmology (J.S.S.) and Neurology (L.B.), New York University School of Medicine, New York; Moorfields Eye Hospital and The National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery (A.P.), London, UK; and Department of Neurology (P.A.), Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf, Germany.
authors.forename: Lisanne J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Balk
authors.affiliation: From the Multiple Sclerosis Center (A.C.-H., P.V., A.J.G.), Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco; Departments of Neurology and Ophthalmology (L.J.B., A.P.), VU University Medical Centre, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin (T.O., F.P., A.U.B.), NeuroCure Clinical Research Center; Department of Neurology (T.O., F.P., A.U.B.), Experimental and Clinical Research Center, Max Delbrueck Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany; Department of Neurology (S.S., P.C.), Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD; Center of Neuroimmunology and Department of Neurology (E.H.M.-L., P.V.), Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Hospital Clinic of Barcelona, Spain; Eye Center (W.A.L.), University Medical Center, Freiburg, Germany; Departments of Ophthalmology (J.S.S.) and Neurology (L.B.), New York University School of Medicine, New York; Moorfields Eye Hospital and The National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery (A.P.), London, UK; and Department of Neurology (P.A.), Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf, Germany.
authors.forename: Timm
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Oberwahrenbrock
authors.affiliation: From the Multiple Sclerosis Center (A.C.-H., P.V., A.J.G.), Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco; Departments of Neurology and Ophthalmology (L.J.B., A.P.), VU University Medical Centre, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin (T.O., F.P., A.U.B.), NeuroCure Clinical Research Center; Department of Neurology (T.O., F.P., A.U.B.), Experimental and Clinical Research Center, Max Delbrueck Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany; Department of Neurology (S.S., P.C.), Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD; Center of Neuroimmunology and Department of Neurology (E.H.M.-L., P.V.), Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Hospital Clinic of Barcelona, Spain; Eye Center (W.A.L.), University Medical Center, Freiburg, Germany; Departments of Ophthalmology (J.S.S.) and Neurology (L.B.), New York University School of Medicine, New York; Moorfields Eye Hospital and The National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery (A.P.), London, UK; and Department of Neurology (P.A.), Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf, Germany.
authors.forename: Shiv
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saidha
authors.affiliation: From the Multiple Sclerosis Center (A.C.-H., P.V., A.J.G.), Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco; Departments of Neurology and Ophthalmology (L.J.B., A.P.), VU University Medical Centre, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin (T.O., F.P., A.U.B.), NeuroCure Clinical Research Center; Department of Neurology (T.O., F.P., A.U.B.), Experimental and Clinical Research Center, Max Delbrueck Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany; Department of Neurology (S.S., P.C.), Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD; Center of Neuroimmunology and Department of Neurology (E.H.M.-L., P.V.), Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Hospital Clinic of Barcelona, Spain; Eye Center (W.A.L.), University Medical Center, Freiburg, Germany; Departments of Ophthalmology (J.S.S.) and Neurology (L.B.), New York University School of Medicine, New York; Moorfields Eye Hospital and The National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery (A.P.), London, UK; and Department of Neurology (P.A.), Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf, Germany.
authors.forename: Elena H
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Martinez-Lapiscina
authors.affiliation: From the Multiple Sclerosis Center (A.C.-H., P.V., A.J.G.), Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco; Departments of Neurology and Ophthalmology (L.J.B., A.P.), VU University Medical Centre, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin (T.O., F.P., A.U.B.), NeuroCure Clinical Research Center; Department of Neurology (T.O., F.P., A.U.B.), Experimental and Clinical Research Center, Max Delbrueck Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany; Department of Neurology (S.S., P.C.), Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD; Center of Neuroimmunology and Department of Neurology (E.H.M.-L., P.V.), Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Hospital Clinic of Barcelona, Spain; Eye Center (W.A.L.), University Medical Center, Freiburg, Germany; Departments of Ophthalmology (J.S.S.) and Neurology (L.B.), New York University School of Medicine, New York; Moorfields Eye Hospital and The National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery (A.P.), London, UK; and Department of Neurology (P.A.), Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf, Germany.
authors.forename: Wolf A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Lagreze
authors.affiliation: From the Multiple Sclerosis Center (A.C.-H., P.V., A.J.G.), Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco; Departments of Neurology and Ophthalmology (L.J.B., A.P.), VU University Medical Centre, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin (T.O., F.P., A.U.B.), NeuroCure Clinical Research Center; Department of Neurology (T.O., F.P., A.U.B.), Experimental and Clinical Research Center, Max Delbrueck Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany; Department of Neurology (S.S., P.C.), Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD; Center of Neuroimmunology and Department of Neurology (E.H.M.-L., P.V.), Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Hospital Clinic of Barcelona, Spain; Eye Center (W.A.L.), University Medical Center, Freiburg, Germany; Departments of Ophthalmology (J.S.S.) and Neurology (L.B.), New York University School of Medicine, New York; Moorfields Eye Hospital and The National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery (A.P.), London, UK; and Department of Neurology (P.A.), Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf, Germany.
authors.forename: Joel S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Schuman
authors.affiliation: From the Multiple Sclerosis Center (A.C.-H., P.V., A.J.G.), Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco; Departments of Neurology and Ophthalmology (L.J.B., A.P.), VU University Medical Centre, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin (T.O., F.P., A.U.B.), NeuroCure Clinical Research Center; Department of Neurology (T.O., F.P., A.U.B.), Experimental and Clinical Research Center, Max Delbrueck Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany; Department of Neurology (S.S., P.C.), Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD; Center of Neuroimmunology and Department of Neurology (E.H.M.-L., P.V.), Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Hospital Clinic of Barcelona, Spain; Eye Center (W.A.L.), University Medical Center, Freiburg, Germany; Departments of Ophthalmology (J.S.S.) and Neurology (L.B.), New York University School of Medicine, New York; Moorfields Eye Hospital and The National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery (A.P.), London, UK; and Department of Neurology (P.A.), Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf, Germany.
authors.forename: Pablo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Villoslada
authors.affiliation: From the Multiple Sclerosis Center (A.C.-H., P.V., A.J.G.), Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco; Departments of Neurology and Ophthalmology (L.J.B., A.P.), VU University Medical Centre, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin (T.O., F.P., A.U.B.), NeuroCure Clinical Research Center; Department of Neurology (T.O., F.P., A.U.B.), Experimental and Clinical Research Center, Max Delbrueck Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany; Department of Neurology (S.S., P.C.), Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD; Center of Neuroimmunology and Department of Neurology (E.H.M.-L., P.V.), Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Hospital Clinic of Barcelona, Spain; Eye Center (W.A.L.), University Medical Center, Freiburg, Germany; Departments of Ophthalmology (J.S.S.) and Neurology (L.B.), New York University School of Medicine, New York; Moorfields Eye Hospital and The National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery (A.P.), London, UK; and Department of Neurology (P.A.), Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf, Germany.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Calabresi
authors.affiliation: From the Multiple Sclerosis Center (A.C.-H., P.V., A.J.G.), Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco; Departments of Neurology and Ophthalmology (L.J.B., A.P.), VU University Medical Centre, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin (T.O., F.P., A.U.B.), NeuroCure Clinical Research Center; Department of Neurology (T.O., F.P., A.U.B.), Experimental and Clinical Research Center, Max Delbrueck Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany; Department of Neurology (S.S., P.C.), Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD; Center of Neuroimmunology and Department of Neurology (E.H.M.-L., P.V.), Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Hospital Clinic of Barcelona, Spain; Eye Center (W.A.L.), University Medical Center, Freiburg, Germany; Departments of Ophthalmology (J.S.S.) and Neurology (L.B.), New York University School of Medicine, New York; Moorfields Eye Hospital and The National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery (A.P.), London, UK; and Department of Neurology (P.A.), Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf, Germany.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Balcer
authors.affiliation: From the Multiple Sclerosis Center (A.C.-H., P.V., A.J.G.), Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco; Departments of Neurology and Ophthalmology (L.J.B., A.P.), VU University Medical Centre, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin (T.O., F.P., A.U.B.), NeuroCure Clinical Research Center; Department of Neurology (T.O., F.P., A.U.B.), Experimental and Clinical Research Center, Max Delbrueck Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany; Department of Neurology (S.S., P.C.), Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD; Center of Neuroimmunology and Department of Neurology (E.H.M.-L., P.V.), Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Hospital Clinic of Barcelona, Spain; Eye Center (W.A.L.), University Medical Center, Freiburg, Germany; Departments of Ophthalmology (J.S.S.) and Neurology (L.B.), New York University School of Medicine, New York; Moorfields Eye Hospital and The National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery (A.P.), London, UK; and Department of Neurology (P.A.), Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf, Germany.
authors.forename: Axel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Petzold
authors.affiliation: From the Multiple Sclerosis Center (A.C.-H., P.V., A.J.G.), Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco; Departments of Neurology and Ophthalmology (L.J.B., A.P.), VU University Medical Centre, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin (T.O., F.P., A.U.B.), NeuroCure Clinical Research Center; Department of Neurology (T.O., F.P., A.U.B.), Experimental and Clinical Research Center, Max Delbrueck Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany; Department of Neurology (S.S., P.C.), Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD; Center of Neuroimmunology and Department of Neurology (E.H.M.-L., P.V.), Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Hospital Clinic of Barcelona, Spain; Eye Center (W.A.L.), University Medical Center, Freiburg, Germany; Departments of Ophthalmology (J.S.S.) and Neurology (L.B.), New York University School of Medicine, New York; Moorfields Eye Hospital and The National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery (A.P.), London, UK; and Department of Neurology (P.A.), Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf, Germany.
authors.forename: Ari J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Green
authors.affiliation: From the Multiple Sclerosis Center (A.C.-H., P.V., A.J.G.), Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco; Departments of Neurology and Ophthalmology (L.J.B., A.P.), VU University Medical Centre, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin (T.O., F.P., A.U.B.), NeuroCure Clinical Research Center; Department of Neurology (T.O., F.P., A.U.B.), Experimental and Clinical Research Center, Max Delbrueck Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany; Department of Neurology (S.S., P.C.), Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD; Center of Neuroimmunology and Department of Neurology (E.H.M.-L., P.V.), Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Hospital Clinic of Barcelona, Spain; Eye Center (W.A.L.), University Medical Center, Freiburg, Germany; Departments of Ophthalmology (J.S.S.) and Neurology (L.B.), New York University School of Medicine, New York; Moorfields Eye Hospital and The National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery (A.P.), London, UK; and Department of Neurology (P.A.), Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf, Germany.
authors.forename: Friedemann
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Paul
authors.affiliation: From the Multiple Sclerosis Center (A.C.-H., P.V., A.J.G.), Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco; Departments of Neurology and Ophthalmology (L.J.B., A.P.), VU University Medical Centre, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin (T.O., F.P., A.U.B.), NeuroCure Clinical Research Center; Department of Neurology (T.O., F.P., A.U.B.), Experimental and Clinical Research Center, Max Delbrueck Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany; Department of Neurology (S.S., P.C.), Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD; Center of Neuroimmunology and Department of Neurology (E.H.M.-L., P.V.), Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Hospital Clinic of Barcelona, Spain; Eye Center (W.A.L.), University Medical Center, Freiburg, Germany; Departments of Ophthalmology (J.S.S.) and Neurology (L.B.), New York University School of Medicine, New York; Moorfields Eye Hospital and The National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery (A.P.), London, UK; and Department of Neurology (P.A.), Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf, Germany.
authors.forename: Alexander U
authors.initials: AU
authors.lastname: Brandt
authors.affiliation: From the Multiple Sclerosis Center (A.C.-H., P.V., A.J.G.), Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco; Departments of Neurology and Ophthalmology (L.J.B., A.P.), VU University Medical Centre, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin (T.O., F.P., A.U.B.), NeuroCure Clinical Research Center; Department of Neurology (T.O., F.P., A.U.B.), Experimental and Clinical Research Center, Max Delbrueck Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany; Department of Neurology (S.S., P.C.), Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD; Center of Neuroimmunology and Department of Neurology (E.H.M.-L., P.V.), Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Hospital Clinic of Barcelona, Spain; Eye Center (W.A.L.), University Medical Center, Freiburg, Germany; Departments of Ophthalmology (J.S.S.) and Neurology (L.B.), New York University School of Medicine, New York; Moorfields Eye Hospital and The National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery (A.P.), London, UK; and Department of Neurology (P.A.), Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf, Germany. phil.albrecht@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Philipp
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Albrecht
mesh_terms: D057189:Checklist; D006801:Humans; D012107:Research Design / Q000592:standards*; D009626:Terminology as Topic; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence / Q000379:methods*