Abstract
Abstract: :
Purpose: To evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of OCT–Stratus (OCT3) in detecting choroidal neovascularization (CNV)both in high myopia (HM) and age macular disease (AMD) versus fluorangiography. Methods: Ninety eyes from 80 patients (34 M, 46 F, mean age 62.94 years) scheduled for angiographic examination because of an abrupt reduction of visual acuity and metamorphopsia, due to a suspected CNV, were included in the study. OCT using line and fast macular scan acquisition protocol by the same examiner, was performed.A control group of 30 normal asymptomatic patients, submitted to OCT, was enrolled.We defined OCT as positive for the diagnosis of CNV when the presence of direct and indirect signs was documented. All the patients were submitted to fluorangiographic examination.The presence of the direct signs was sufficient for the diagnosis of CNV, but do not enable to assess the activity of the lesion. Conversely, the presence of one or more of the indirect signs was evaluated to assess the activity of the CNV.We analyzed the results dividing two groups according to the pathology : group A with AMD and group B with HM (>8D).Results: Fifty–eight patients ( 63 eyes, mean age 65 ys) were affected by AMD (Group A), while 22 patients ( 25 eyes, mean age 62.40 ys ) presented high myopia (Group B).We compared the tomographic and angiographic results. OCT showed a sensitivity of 0.9743 in detecting the presence of CNV (76 patients on 78 were identified). The specificity was 0.75, evidencing the absence of CNV in 9 on 12 cases (3 false positive).All the 30 normal patients were considered negative with OCT.Conclusions: OCT may evidence the presence of the CNV revealed by both direct and indirect signs., whose evaluation may suggest the state of activity of the lesion.In our opinion OCT may be considered an accurate and not invasive diagnostic tool in the screening of a risk population, both for AMD that for HM, so employing the invasive fluorangiographic examination for the selected or doubt cases, with benefit for social costs.
Keywords: age-related macular degeneration