title: Study of the Radial Peripapillary Capillary Network in Congenital Optic Disc Anomalies With Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the radial peripapillary capillary network with optical coherence tomography angiography (angio-OCT) in morning glory syndrome (MGS), optic disc colobomas, and optic disc pits, and to explore possible correlations between the neural vascular structure and the pathogenesis of congenital optic disc anomalies.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective observational comparative case series.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifteen eyes of 15 patients with congenital optic disc anomalies were enrolled in this study. All patients underwent angio-OCT. The scans were centered on optic discs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age at presentation was 33 years (range: 19-50 years). Congenital optic disc anomalies were identified in all 15 eyes. Three eyes had the characteristic funduscopic signs of MGS, and angio-OCT scans of the peripapillary retina revealed a dense microvascular network. Optic disc colobomas were found in 5 eyes, and the characteristic funduscopic signs of optic pits were found in 7 eyes. Angio-OCT showed the absence of a radial peripapillary microvascular network in these 12 eyes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The finding that angio-OCT scans confirmed the presence of a peripapillary microvascular network only in MGS cases supports the hypothesis that a primary neuroectodermal abnormality and a secondary mesenchymal abnormality leads to MGS. Angio-OCT is a safe, rapid imaging technique that could shed light on the pathogenesis of rare diseases of the optic disc.
authors.affiliation: Eye Clinic, Department of Neurosciences, Reproductive Sciences and Dentistry, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy. Electronic address: xgilda@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Gilda
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cennamo
authors.affiliation: Eye Clinic, Department of Neurosciences, Reproductive Sciences and Dentistry, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.affiliation: Eye Clinic, Department of Neurosciences, Reproductive Sciences and Dentistry, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Pasquale
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ruggiero
authors.affiliation: Eye Clinic, Department of Neurosciences, Reproductive Sciences and Dentistry, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: de Crecchio
authors.affiliation: Eye Clinic, Department of Neurosciences, Reproductive Sciences and Dentistry, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cennamo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002196:Capillaries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D005654:Fundus Oculi; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009898:Optic Disk / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D009901:Optic Nerve Diseases / Q000151:congenital / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult