Three–Dimensional High–Resolution Fourier–Domain Optical Coherence Tomography Imaging of Choroidal Neovascular Membranes

Abstract

Purpose: : To visualize a volumetric structure of choroidal neovascular membranes (CNVM) secondary to age–related macular degeneration using three–dimensional high–resolution Fourier–domain Optical Coherence Tomography (3D Fd–OCT). These structures were then used to measure lesion size, lesion localization, and compared with fluorescein angiography (FA).

Methods: : A high–resolution Fd–OCT (4.5µm) instrument constructed at the UC Davis Medical Center was used to image 30 patients with CNVM. A series of 100 B–scans (1000 A–scans/frame, 9 frames/second) was registered and rendered as a 3D volume. These retinal structures were segmented using custom algorithms and analyzed for lesion size and location.

Results: : Measurements of lesion size obtained from 3D Fd–OCT correlated with those from FA. Lesion extent was reliably localized on 3D Fd–OCT. Additionally, lesions not discernable on FA due to overlying subretinal hemorrhage were localized and measured on 3D Fd–OCT.

Conclusions: : 3D Fd–OCT offers a non–invasive, alternate imaging modality to measure and localize CNVM, even in cases where visualization of the lesion is obscured by overlying hemorrhage.

Keywords: imaging methods (CT, FA, ICG, MRI, OCT, RTA, SLO, ultrasound) • choroid: neovascularization • age-related macular degeneration