[Skip to Navigation]
Sign In
Figure 1.  Tangled Vascular Polypoidal Lesions on Indocyanine Green Angiography (ICGA) and Swept-Source Optical Coherence Tomographic Angiography (SS-OCTA)
Tangled Vascular Polypoidal Lesions on Indocyanine Green Angiography (ICGA) and Swept-Source Optical Coherence Tomographic Angiography (SS-OCTA)

A, ICGA shows 5 hyperfluorescent spots (arrowheads). B, ICGA shows 1 focal hyperfluorescent spot (arrowhead). C, SS-OCTA shows 8 multiform tangle vessel structures (pink and yellow arrowheads) at the edge of a medusalike branching vascular network. Polypoidal lesions (pink arrowheads) were not detected on ICGA. D, SS-OCTA shows 3 tangle vessel balls (pink and yellow arrowheads). Polypoidal lesions (pink arrowheads) were not detected on ICGA. Squares represent the region on the ICGA that corresponds to the en face SS-OCTA images below.

Figure 2.  Multimodal Imaging in Patient 6
Multimodal Imaging in Patient 6

A, The fundus photograph shows orange-red polypoidal lesions (arrowheads). B, Enlarged early-phase indocyanine green angiography shows polypoidal lesions (arrowheads) in a cluster configuration around a branching vascular network (BVN). C, Swept-source optical coherence tomographic angiography (OCTA) shows the vascular flow signals of polypoidal lesions (arrowheads) and BVN. Numbers 1 to 4 represent the serial number of lesions and suggest that there are 4 polypoidal lesions in this patient. D, Schematic drawing shows the tangled vessel structure of polypoidal lesions.

Figure 3.  Multimodal Imaging in Patient 1
Multimodal Imaging in Patient 1

A, The fundus photograph shows an orange-red polypoidal lesion (arrowhead). B, Early-phase indocyanine green angiography shows a focal polypoidal lesion (arrowhead) and branching vascular network (BVN). C, Swept-source optical coherence tomographic angiography (SS-OCTA) shows BVN (pink arrowheads) and a polypoidal lesion (yellow arrowhead) that appear as tangled vessels before anti–vascular endothelial growth factor treatment. D, Two months after the second ranibizumab injection, SS-OCTA shows regression of the terminal vessels in the polypoidal lesion (yellow arrowhead) and appears as tangled dilated vessels connected to the BVN (pink arrowheads).

Figure 4.  Swept-Source Optical Coherence Tomographic Angiography (SS-OCTA) and OCT B-scan in Patient 2
Swept-Source Optical Coherence Tomographic Angiography (SS-OCTA) and OCT B-scan in Patient 2

A, One part of branching vascular networks (BVNs) (pink arrowheads) and polypoidal lesions (yellow arrowheads) were clearly detected on SS-OCTA. B, Type 2 neovascularization (pink arrowhead), another part of BVN, and polypoidal lesions (yellow arrowheads) connected to them were observed on SS-OCTA. C, The BVN and polypoidal lesions above corresponded to the double layer sign (pink arrowheads) and notched pigment epithelial detachment (yellow arrowheads) on the OCT B-scan. D, The type 2 neovascularization above corresponded to the highly reflective material overlying the retinal pigment epithelium (arrowhead) on the OCT B-scan. Each set of scans was obtained from a different location.

Table.  Patient Information Summary
Patient Information Summary
1.
Yannuzzi  LA, Sorenson  J, Spaide  RF, Lipson  B.  Idiopathic polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (IPCV).  Retina. 1990;10(1):1-8. doi:10.1097/00006982-199010010-00001PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref
2.
Cheung  CMG, Lai  TYY, Ruamviboonsuk  P,  et al.  Polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy: definition, pathogenesis, diagnosis, and management.  Ophthalmology. 2018;125(5):708-724. doi:10.1016/j.ophtha.2017.11.019PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref
3.
Cheung  CM, Laude  A, Wong  W,  et al.  Improved specificity of polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy diagnosis using a modified EVEREST criteria.  Retina. 2015;35(7):1375-1380. doi:10.1097/IAE.0000000000000482PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref
4.
Balaratnasingam  C, Lee  WK, Koizumi  H, Dansingani  K, Inoue  M, Freund  KB.  Polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy: a distinct disease or manifestation of many?  Retina. 2016;36(1):1-8. doi:10.1097/IAE.0000000000000774PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref
5.
Inoue  M, Balaratnasingam  C, Freund  KB.  Optical coherence tomography angiography of polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy and polypoidal choroidal neovascularization.  Retina. 2015;35(11):2265-2274. doi:10.1097/IAE.0000000000000777PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref
6.
Wang  M, Zhou  Y, Gao  SS,  et al.  Evaluating polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy with optical coherence tomography angiography.  Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2016;57(9):OCT526-OCT532. doi:10.1167/iovs.15-18955PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref
7.
Cheung  CMG, Yanagi  Y, Akiba  M,  et al.  Improved detection and diagnosis of polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy using a combination of optical coherence tomography and optical coherence tomography angiography  [published online June 20, 2018].  Retina.. doi:10.1097/IAE.0000000000002228PubMedGoogle Scholar
8.
de Carlo  TE, Kokame  GT, Kaneko  KN, Lian  R, Lai  JC, Wee  R.  Sensitivity and specificity of detecting polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy with en face optical coherence tomography and optical coherence tomography angiography  [published online March 20, 2018].  Retina. . doi:10.1097/IAE.0000000000002139PubMedGoogle Scholar
9.
Chan  SY, Wang  Q, Wang  YX, Shi  XH, Jonas  JB, Wei  WB.  Polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy upon optical coherence tomographic angiography.  Retina. 2018;38(6):1187-1194. doi:10.1097/IAE.0000000000001702PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref
10.
Peiretti  E, Iovino  C, Sacconi  R, Caminiti  G, Querques  G.  Optical coherence tomography angiography characteristics of polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy secondary to chronic central serous chorioretinopathy  [published online June 27, 2018].  Retina.. doi:10.1097/IAE.0000000000002234PubMedGoogle Scholar
11.
Nakashizuka  H, Mitsumata  M, Okisaka  S,  et al.  Clinicopathologic findings in polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy.  Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2008;49(11):4729-4737. doi:10.1167/iovs.08-2134PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref
12.
Novais  EA, Adhi  M, Moult  EM,  et al.  Choroidal neovascularization analyzed on ultrahigh-speed swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography compared to spectral-domain optical coherence tomography angiography.  Am J Ophthalmol. 2016;164:80-88. doi:10.1016/j.ajo.2016.01.011PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref
13.
Cheung  CMG, Yanagi  Y, Mohla  A,  et al.  Characterization and differentiation of polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy using swept source optical coherence tomography angiography.  Retina. 2017;37(8):1464-1474. doi:10.1097/IAE.0000000000001391PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref
14.
Ting  DS, Cheung  GC, Lim  LS, Yeo  IY.  Comparison of swept source optical coherence tomography and spectral domain optical coherence tomography in polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy.  Clin Exp Ophthalmol. 2015;43(9):815-819. doi:10.1111/ceo.12580PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref
15.
World Medical Association.  World Medical Association Declaration of Helsinki: ethical principles for medical research involving human subjects.  JAMA. 2013;310(20):2191-2194. doi:10.1001/jama.2013.281053PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref
16.
Koh  A, Lee  WK, Chen  LJ,  et al.  EVEREST study: efficacy and safety of verteporfin photodynamic therapy in combination with ranibizumab or alone versus ranibizumab monotherapy in patients with symptomatic macular polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy.  Retina. 2012;32(8):1453-1464. doi:10.1097/IAE.0b013e31824f91e8PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref
17.
de Oliveira Dias  JR, Zhang  Q, Garcia  JMB,  et al.  Natural history of subclinical neovascularization in nonexudative age-related macular degeneration using swept-source OCT angiography.  Ophthalmology. 2018;125(2):255-266. doi:10.1016/j.ophtha.2017.08.030PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref
18.
Zhang  Q, Zhang  A, Lee  CS,  et al.  Projection artifact removal improves visualization and quantitation of macular neovascularization imaged by optical coherence tomography angiography.  Ophthalmol Retina. 2017;1(2):124-136. doi:10.1016/j.oret.2016.08.005PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref
19.
Ross  RD, Gitter  KA, Cohen  G, Schomaker  KS.  Idiopathic polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy associated with retinal arterial macroaneurysm and hypertensive retinopathy.  Retina. 1996;16(2):105-111. doi:10.1097/00006982-199616020-00003PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref
20.
Watanabe  G, Fujii  H, Kishi  S.  Imaging of choroidal hemodynamics in eyes with polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy using laser speckle phenomenon.  Jpn J Ophthalmol. 2008;52(3):175-181. doi:10.1007/s10384-007-0521-7PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref
21.
Yuzawa  M, Mori  R, Kawamura  A.  The origins of polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy.  Br J Ophthalmol. 2005;89(5):602-607. doi:10.1136/bjo.2004.049296PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref
22.
Okubo  A, Sameshima  M, Uemura  A, Kanda  S, Ohba  N.  Clinicopathological correlation of polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy revealed by ultrastructural study.  Br J Ophthalmol. 2002;86(10):1093-1098. doi:10.1136/bjo.86.10.1093PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref
23.
Li  M, Dolz-Marco  R, Messinger  JD,  et al.  Clinicopathologic correlation of aneurysmal type 1 neovascularization in age-related macular degeneration.  Ophthalmol Retina. 2019;3(2):99-111. doi:10.1016/j.oret.2018.08.008Google ScholarCrossref
24.
Oishi  A, Kojima  H, Mandai  M,  et al.  Comparison of the effect of ranibizumab and verteporfin for polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy: 12-month LAPTOP study results.  Am J Ophthalmol. 2013;156(4):644-651. doi:10.1016/j.ajo.2013.05.024PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref
25.
Kokame  GT, Yeung  L, Teramoto  K, Lai  JC, Wee  R.  Polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy exudation and hemorrhage: results of monthly ranibizumab therapy at one year.  Ophthalmologica. 2014;231(2):94-102. doi:10.1159/000354072PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref
26.
Rajendram  R, Fraser-Bell  S, Kaines  A,  et al.  A 2-year prospective randomized controlled trial of intravitreal bevacizumab or laser therapy (BOLT) in the management of diabetic macular edema: 24-month data: report 3.  Arch Ophthalmol. 2012;130(8):972-979. doi:10.1001/archophthalmol.2012.393PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref
27.
Martin  DF, Maguire  MG, Fine  SL,  et al; Comparison of Age-related Macular Degeneration Treatments Trials (CATT) Research Group.  Ranibizumab and bevacizumab for treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration: two-year results.  Ophthalmology. 2012;119(7):1388-1398. doi:10.1016/j.ophtha.2012.03.053PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref
28.
Martin  DF, Maguire  MG, Ying  GS, Grunwald  JE, Fine  SL, Jaffe  GJ; CATT Research Group.  Ranibizumab and bevacizumab for neovascular age-related macular degeneration.  N Engl J Med. 2011;364(20):1897-1908. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa1102673PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref
29.
Akaza  E, Matsumoto  Y, Yuzawa  M.  Pulsation in polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy [in Japanese].  Nippon Ganka Gakkai Zasshi. 2006;110(4):288-292.PubMedGoogle Scholar
30.
Chen  Y, Yang  Z, Xia  F, Ning  H, Hua  R.  The blood flow characteristics of polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy and the choroidal remodelling process after photodynamic therapy.  Lasers Surg Med. 2018;50(5):427-432. doi:10.1002/lsm.22801PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref
31.
Alshahrani  ST, Al Shamsi  HN, Kahtani  ES, Ghazi  NG.  Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography findings in polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy suggest a type 1 neovascular growth pattern.  Clin Ophthalmol. 2014;8:1689-1695. doi:10.2147/OPTH.S68471PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref
32.
Terasaki  H, Miyake  Y, Suzuki  T, Nakamura  M, Nagasaka  T.  Polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy treated with macular translocation: clinical pathological correlation.  Br J Ophthalmol. 2002;86(3):321-327. doi:10.1136/bjo.86.3.321PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref
33.
Liang  S, Shi  X, Rosenfeld  PJ, Li  X.  Type 2 choroidal neovascularisation in polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy: a retrospective case series.  Br J Ophthalmol. 2018;102(11):1570-1574. doi:10.1136/bjophthalmol-2017-311518PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref
34.
Dansingani  KK, Balaratnasingam  C, Klufas  MA, Sarraf  D, Freund  KB.  Optical coherence tomography angiography of shallow irregular pigment epithelial detachments in pachychoroid spectrum disease.  Am J Ophthalmol. 2015;160(6):1243-1254.e2. doi:10.1016/j.ajo.2015.08.028PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref
Original Investigation
April 18, 2019

Appearance of Polypoidal Lesions in Patients With Polypoidal Choroidal Vasculopathy Using Swept-Source Optical Coherence Tomographic Angiography

Author Affiliations
  • 1Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai General Hospital (Shanghai First People’s Hospital), Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
  • 2Shanghai Key Laboratory of Fundus Diseases, Shanghai, China
  • 3Department of Ophthalmology, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida
  • 4Shanghai Engineering Center for Visual Science and Photomedicine, Shanghai, China
JAMA Ophthalmol. 2019;137(6):642-650. doi:10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2019.0449
Key Points

Question  Are the polypoidal lesions in patients with polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy identified as aneurysmal dilatations or neovascularization on swept-source optical coherence tomographic angiography?

Findings  In this cross-sectional study of 23 eyes from 20 patients with polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy, all 43 polypoidal lesions identified using indocyanine green angiography appeared as tangled new vessels on swept-source optical coherence tomographic angiography rather than aneurysmal lesions.

Meaning  The identification of polypoidal lesions in patients with polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy as neovascular tangles rather than actual polypoidal lesions or aneurysmal dilatations may help facilitate understanding of their pathogenesis and response to treatment.

Abstract

Importance  Polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) is a major cause of visual loss worldwide, particularly in Asia, and the appropriate understanding of the structures in PCV previously described as polypoidal lesions is important for understanding their pathogenesis, diagnosis, and prognosis.

Objective  To report the morphologic characteristics of polypoidal lesions and their association with branching vascular networks (BVNs) in eyes with PCV using swept-source optical coherence tomographic angiography (SS-OCTA).

Design, Setting, and Participants  This cross-sectional observational study included 20 participants recruited from Shanghai General Hospital with a diagnosis of PCV based on the presence of focal hyperfluorescent spots on indocyanine green angiography (ICGA). Data were collected from December 1, 2017, to September 1, 2018, and analyzed from June 1 through September 30, 2018.

Main Outcomes and Measures  Polypoidal lesions in eyes with PCV were characterized using multimodal imaging that included fundus photography, fluorescein angiography, ICGA, SS-OCT, and SS-OCTA, and the images were anatomically aligned. Subfoveal choroidal thickness was manually measured as the distance between the Bruch membrane and the sclerochoroidal interface on the SS-OCT images.

Results  Of the 20 Asian patients, 5 (25%) were women and 15 (75%) were men. The mean (SD) age was 61.1 (7.6) years, and the mean (SD) logMAR visual acuity was 0.358 (0.294) (Snellen equivalent, 20/50 [20/40]). Twenty-three eyes underwent imaging and were diagnosed with PCV. Indocyanine green angiography identified 43 polypoidal lesions, and all corresponded to the structures that appeared as clusters of tangled vessels on SS-OCTA images. In addition, SS-OCTA detected 16 tangled vascular structures not seen on ICGA. Branching vascular networks were detected on SS-OCTA imaging in all eyes, but ICGA identified BVNs in only 17 of 23 eyes (74%). Of the 43 tangled vascular structures, 40 (93%) were located at the edge of a BVN and 3 (7%) were associated with type 2 neovascularization.

Conclusions and Relevance  In eyes with PCV undergoing SS-OCTA imaging, previously described polypoidal lesions may appear as tangled vascular structures associated with BVN or type 2 neovascularization. The identification of polypoidal lesions in patients with PCV as neovascular tangles rather than actual polypoidal lesions or aneurysmal dilatations may help facilitate understanding of their pathogenesis and response to treatment.

Introduction

Polypoidal lesions were first recognized as features of polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) as described by Yannuzzi et al in 1990.1 At that time, PCV was thought to represent a distinct clinical entity from neovascular age-related macular degeneration. Branching vascular networks (BVNs), another feature of PCV, are now considered to be a variant of type 1 neovascularization, and the polypoidal lesions are described as terminal dilatations based on indocyanine green angiography (ICGA), which has been the criterion standard imaging method for diagnosis of PCV.2 On the basis of multimodal imaging, polypoidal lesions were thought to be structural variants associated with BVNs rather than the result of a distinct pathogenic pathway.3,4 Indocyanine green angiography and structural optical coherence tomography (OCT) have shown that polypoidal lesions appear to be focal dilatations of blood vessels at the margins of type 1 neovascularization. Inoue et al5 speculated that these polypoidal lesions represent aneurysmal lesions, and this pathological feature exists in a range of disorders. The investigators5 proposed a change in the name of PCV to aneurysmal type neovascularization.

Although OCT angiography (OCTA) has greatly facilitated the detection of BVNs and has provided detailed descriptions of their structure,6 polypoidal lesions have been poorly visualized on en face spectral-domain OCTA (SD-OCTA).7,8 Chan et al9 described polypoidal lesions as clusterlike structures, and Peiretti et al10 described polypoidal lesions as round structures with increased or decreased flow characteristics. None of these studies described polypoidal lesions as aneurysmlike lesions. Even in clinicopathological studies, no definitive evidence has been provided about the anatomical structure of these polypoidal lesions.11 To date, the precise origin and composition of polypoidal lesions have yet to be clearly described, and an accurate description is the first step toward understanding the pathophysiological mechanisms involved in PCV. However, observations in this study using swept-source OCTA (SS-OCTA) have suggested that the use of the term aneurysm does not accurately describe the clinical appearance of these polypoidal lesions in PCV.

Swept-source OCTA uses a laser light source with a longer wavelength (1060 nm) than SD-OCTA (840 nm); as a result, less sensitivity roll-off occurs under the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), and structural and angiographic images appear superior to SD-OCT–based images.12-14 As a result, the SS-OCT platform allows for better visualization of type 1 neovascularization and the polypoidal lesions.13 Using SS-OCTA, we investigated the morphologic characteristics of polypoidal lesions, BVNs, and their spatial associations in a Chinese population with PCV.

Methods

This cross-sectional study included patients from the Department of Ophthalmology at Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai, China. The patients were evaluated from December 1, 2017, to September 30, 2018. The study design was approved by the medical ethics committee of Shanghai General Hospital, and all investigations followed the tenets of the Declaration of Helsinki.15 All patients provided verbal informed consent.

Inclusion criteria for the study were confirmed by at least 2 experienced ophthalmologists (F.W. and X.S.). The diagnosis of PCV was based on a modified inclusion criteria of the EVEREST study,16 which includes the presence of focal hyperfluorescent spots on ICGA plus at least 1 of the following: BVN, pulsatile polyp, nodular appearance on indirect ophthalmoscopic or noncontact slitlamp fundus biomicroscopic examinations, presence of a hypofluorescent halo, and/or an orange subretinal nodule on color fundus imaging.9 Exclusion criteria were high myopia (≥6.00 diopters), severe media opacity, previous vitrectomy, presence of hemorrhage that prevented adequate ICGA or OCTA examinations, diabetic retinopathy, and the presence of other concomitant retinal diseases.

All patients underwent a complete ophthalmologic examination, including review of medical records, best-corrected visual acuity, fundus photography (Visucam 200 digital fundus camera; Carl Zeiss Meditec AG), simultaneous fluorescein angiography and ICGA (Spectralis; Heidelberg Engineering, Inc), SS-OCT, and SS-OCTA (PLEX Elite 9000; Carl Zeiss Meditec, Inc). The SS-OCTA was performed at the same visit as the ICGA in all patients before any treatment or observation decisions were made. The choroidal thickness was manually measured as the subfoveal distance between the Bruch membrane and the sclerochoroidal interface using structural sectional OCT images. Swept-source OCTA was performed using 3 × 3-mm and 6 × 6-mm macular raster scans centered on the lesion in all cases.17 For en face imaging, a custom segmentation strategy was used first to visualize the BVNs and polypoidal lesions. The inner boundary followed the RPE, and the outer boundary followed the Bruch membrane, also known as the RPE-fit boundary layer on the instrument. The segmentation boundaries were then manually adjusted to optimally visualize the polypoidal lesions and BVNs. The data collected from each patient included their history of eye diseases, treatments, choroidal thickness measurements, and interpretations of their fundus photographic, fluorescein angiographic, ICGA, and SS-OCT images. The SS-OCTA images were overlaid on the magnified ICGA images to determine the position of polypoidal lesions.

Statistical Analysis

Data were analyzed from June 1 through August 30, 2018. Two ophthalmologists (Q.B. and Q.Y.) and 1 retina specialist (F.W.) evaluated the lesions. The ophthalmologists marked and counted the number of polypoidal lesions independently, first on ICGA and then on SS-OCTA images, and the retina specialist adjudicated any discrepancies. In this study, the SS-OCTA images were evaluated on the point-by-point manually aligned ICGA images. All the retinal vascular projections in SS-OCTA images were removed to eliminate the artifact of retinal blood flow within the slab that would complicate the interpretation of choroidal new vessels and structures within the polypoidal lesions. This process used the automated projection-artifact removal software that was integrated with the PLEX Elite 9000 instrument.18 The quantitative data were presented as means (SDs).

Results

The 20 Asian patients included 5 women (25%) and 15 men (75%). The mean age was 61.1 (7.6) years, and mean logMAR visual acuity was 0.358 (0.294) (Snellen equivalent, 20/50 [20/40]). Twenty-three eyes underwent imaging and were diagnosed with PCV. The mean choroidal thickness was 332.5 (101.2) mm. Demographic and clinical characteristics of patients are summarized in the Table. A total of 8 eyes were treatment-naive, 11 had received multiple injections of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitors, and 4 underwent multiple anti-VEGF treatments and photodynamic therapy.

Branching vascular networks were detected on SS-OCTA in all 23 eyes (100%), and ICGA detected BVNs in 17 of 23 eyes (74%). In 6 eyes, the BVNs that could not be clearly identified on ICGA were detected on SS-OCTA. By adjusting the segmentation boundaries to interpret the SS-OCTA images, we were able to identify all the polypoidal lesions. The internal blood flow of the 43 polypoidal lesions found on ICGA appeared as tangled vascular structures on SS-OCTA. In addition, 16 structures similar to polypoidal lesions were detected on SS-OCTA that were correlated with the peaked or notched pigment epithelial detachments (PEDs) connected to flat irregular PEDs on OCT B-scans (eFigure 4 in the Supplement) but not clearly detected on ICGA (Figure 1). Of the 43 tangled vascular structures, 40 (93%) were located at the edge of BVNs, and 3 (7%) were connected with type 2 neovascularization. The en face images of these polypoidal lesions appeared as round, branched, or other irregular shapes. Tangled vascular structures were at the border of BVNs in all 23 eyes but also within the BVN in 2 eyes.

Patient 6

A 53-year-old woman diagnosed with PCV received 12 anti-VEGF treatments (ranibizumab [Lucentis; Novartis], 0.5 mg) for 5 years. Best-corrected visual acuity was 16/20 OD. Fundus examination revealed 4 orange-red lesions in the macula (Figure 2A). Indocyanine green angiography revealed focal hyperfluorescence and a BVN in the early frame (Figure 2B). The BVN and polypoidal lesions were seen on the SS-OCTA cross-sectional images (Figure 2C). The SS-OCTA boundary segmentation showed that the BVN terminal vessels appeared intertwined with tangled vascular structures that corresponded to a PED on B-scans (eFigure 1A-D in the Supplement). The polypoidal lesions appeared to be composed of numerous vascular tangles when the lesions were magnified (eFigure 1E-H in the Supplement), as outlined in our schematic drawing (Figure 2D). In addition, SS-OCTA showed several globular lesions at baseline, consistent with the polypoidal lesions on ICGA. After photodynamic therapy, the SS-OCTA en face image showed a reduction in the size of the vascular tangles and BVN (eFigure 1I-J in the Supplement). Some polypoidal lesions appeared less vascular, and some disappeared on SS-OCTA. The vascular tangles were observed to recur 2 months after photodynamic therapy, and the tangled vascular structure seemed more distinct in some polypoidal lesions (eg, the polypoidal lesions numbered 1 and 2 in eFigure 1K in the Supplement). Four months after photodynamic therapy, denser vascular tangles were observed at the end of BVN and were associated with some newly formed lesions (eFigure 1L in the Supplement). This case demonstrated that polypoidal lesions resembled a lesion consisting of vascular tangles rather than a dilated pouch that arose from a vessel.

Patient 1

A 62-year-old man was diagnosed with PCV for 1 year and had received 1 ranibizumab (0.5-mg) injection 1 year previously. He experienced acute deterioration in the vision of his right eye. Best-corrected visual acuity was 12/20 OD. Fundus examination revealed a reddish-orange lesion associated with a large macular PED (Figure 3A). Early-phase fluorescein angiography showed evidence of focal hyperfluorescence (eFigure 2A in the Supplement), and late-phase fluorescein angiography showed leakage with a smokestack configuration that suggested the diagnosis of active central serous chorioretinopathy (eFigure 2B in the Supplement). Indocyanine green angiography revealed focal hyperfluorescence with a BVN in the early frames (Figure 3B). The BVN and tangled vascular structures of polypoidal lesions were clearly seen on SS-OCTA before anti-VEGF treatment (Figure 3C). Two months after the second ranibizumab (0.5-mg) injection, SS-OCTA showed regression of the terminal vessels in the polypoidal lesions that appeared as a dilated vessel connected to the BVN (Figure 3D). This case showed that the polypoidal lesions consisted of tangled vessels, and anti-VEGF treatment was associated with regression of these tangled neovascular structures.

Patient 2

A 62-year-old man experienced acute visual loss from his left eye. Best-corrected visual acuity was 40/100 OS (treatment naive). Fundus examination revealed multiple reddish-orange lesions in the temporal macula (eFigure 3A in the Supplement). Fluorescein angiography showed evidence of early focal hyperfluorescence with late leakage consistent with type 2 neovascularization (eFigure 3C-D in the Supplement). Indocyanine green angiography revealed focal hyperfluorescence in the early frame (eFigure 3E in the Supplement). Swept-source OCTA showed tangled vascular structures that corresponded to the polypoidal lesions seen on ICGA (eFigure 3G in the Supplement). Types 1 and 2 neovascularization and polypoidal lesions were seen when the boundary layers on the cross-sectional SS-OCTA B-scan transitioned from the top of the lesion to choroid (Figure 4). This case demonstrated that BVN and type 2 neovascularization coexisted in the same eye, and polypoidal lesions may have been derived from one or both of these neovascular lesions, as outlined in our schematic drawing (eFigure 3H in the Supplement).

Discussion

In the present study, SS-OCTA identified BVNs and polypoidal lesions in PCV better than ICGA, and SS-OCTA revealed the appearance of polypoidal lesions as tangled vascular structures that were associated with type 1 or type 2 neovascularization in patients with PCV. The observation that polypoidal lesions appear to be tangled vascular structures differs from the proposal that polypoidal lesions are aneurysmal dilatations of neovascular tissue and similar to aneurysms in the systemic circulation.5,19 Several independent clinicopathological investigations11,20-22 have shown that polypoidal lesions of PCV were vascular in nature and speculated that the polypoidal lesions arose directly from the inner choroidal circulation. However, the single aneurysmal structure has not been definitely detected in most of the histopathologic examinations.22,23 Our OCTA observations suggest that the polypoidal lesions on ICGA were part of the neovascular complex. Most of the polypoidal lesions were found to consist of tangled vessels, such as a glomerular-type lesion, rather than a single aneurysm. The findings are consistent with the clusterlike structure reported in the study of Chan et al,9(p1190) in which they observed that “the polypoidal lesion showed a cluster-like shape in the OCTAs.” Because of the relative lower image quality of SD-OCTA, they were unable to describe more detailed information about the polypoidal lesions. Yuzawa et al21 reported “internal IGA findings of polypoidal lesions” that included microaneurysmal dilatations, large aneurysmal dilatations, and large vessel deformations, which suggest that polypoidal lesions have different variants in nature. We also observed variants of polypoidal lesions on SS-OCTA; the flow signal from the polypoidal lesions appeared consistent with that of abnormally tangled vessels that could be focally dilated and form loose or dense globular structures, presenting different shapes and sizes.

The polypoidal lesions also appeared to respond to anti-VEGF therapy and decrease in size and complexity (Figure 3), which also is consistent with the observations by others that some polypoidal lesions disappeared after anti-VEGF treatment.24,25 This finding is consistent with the observations that in neovascular age-related macular degeneration, the complexity of the neovascularization diminishes after anti-VEGF therapy, whereas the larger, more mature vessels are unchanged.26-28 Moreover, aneurysms would not be expected to respond to anti-VEGF treatment, whereas a tangle of new vessels is likely to respond. Perhaps SS-OCTA of polypoidal lesions will provide important clues about classifying polypoidal lesions as active or quiescent in PCV, and the vascular complexity of these polypoidal lesions may provide prognostic indications of whether they will respond to anti-VEGF therapy or recur after treatment.

The belief that polypoidal lesions represented pouchlike or aneurysmlike lesions is based on the phenomenon of dye washout and pulsatile or turbulent blood flow that was observed on ICGA.29,30 However, these features could also be found within a tangled vascular structure. Moreover, the tangled vessels were seen in all polypoidal lesions, whereas the ICGA phenomenon described above was not observed in all polypoidal lesions, indicating that polypoidal lesions are not a uniform entity but have a variety of configurations. We propose that the variability is in the complexity of the neovascular tangles, not in the configuration of the aneurysms. In addition, Yuzawa el at21 and Watanabe el at20 showed that the BVNs and polypoidal lesions arise from the choroidal vasculature; thus, the thinner-walled dilated vessels within the polypoidal lesions may display pulsatile blood flow. We also found that the tangled vessels appeared to be derived from the existing BVNs and were arranged in a ring or whorl pattern or in a cluster or bunch-of-grapes pattern. The ring pattern would be consistent with the views of Yuzawa el at21 that the tangled vessels would be visible as a ring of hyperfluorescence on ICGA as the dye intensity fades from the central lumens during the washout period. Finally, we also support the notion of turbulent flow within these tangled vessels because of the presence of dilated vessels of varying caliber. The presence of vascular dilation and changes in vascular caliber and direction within the tangled vascular networks may contribute to turbulent flow.

Previous SD-OCT and postmortem studies have located polypoidal lesions above the Bruch membrane and beneath the RPE.31,32 We identified all the polypoidal lesions consisting of tangled vessels as located between the Bruch membrane and RPE layer at the margins of the BVNs (type 1 neovascularization) in 40 cases (93%) and at the margins of type 2 neovascularization in 3 cases (7%). This supported the findings by Liang et al33 that BVN and type 2 neovascularization can coexist in the same eye with PCV. We also observed that polypoidal lesions coexisted with types 1 and 2 neovascularization in the same eye, which further suggests that polypoidal lesions are neovascular structures, rather than unique aneurysmal variations of type 1 neovascularization.

To date, the criterion standard for the diagnosis of PCV has been ICGA, which we now question, given the findings of several studies in which the detectability of BVNs was better with OCTA.9,34 In the present study, SS-OCTA was better than ICGA for the detection of polypoidal lesions. A total of 43 polypoidal lesions were counted on ICGA, and all the lesions could be overlapped with the vascular tangles corresponding to polypoidal lesions seen on SS-OCTA. Moreover, 16 additional tangled vascular structures, which corresponded to the peaked or notched PEDs connected to flat irregular PEDs on OCT B-scans, were detected by SS-OCTA. As a result, SS-OCTA may be more sensitive for the detection of polypoidal lesions in PCV than ICGA, and, if confirmed by others, SS-OCTA might be considered the new criterion standard for the diagnosis and monitoring of PCV.

Limitations

The present study has several limitations that include its cross-sectional nature and a relatively small sample of patients. In addition, not all the patients whom we recruited were treatment naive, and others had heterogeneous treatment histories. Moreover, studies are needed to confirm our findings and determine whether this phenotype correlates with certain PCV genotypes or certain underlying medical diagnoses.

Conclusions

Using a commercialized SS-OCTA platform, we examined the tangled vascular blood flow properties of polypoidal lesions in patients with PCV. We found that polypoidal lesions consisted of densely or loosely tangled vascular structures at the margins of BVNs or type 2 neovascularization, consistent with the proposal that polypoidal lesions are a form of neovascularization rather than an aneurysmal structure. Further studies are needed to confirm our findings and better characterize the evolution, natural history, and response to therapy of these different tangled vascular structures in PCV using SS-OCTA.

Back to top
Article Information

Accepted for Publication: January 31, 2019.

Published Online: April 18, 2019. doi:10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2019.0449

Open Access: This article is published under the JN-OA license and is free to read on the day of publication.

Corresponding Author: Fenghua Wang, MD, Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai General Hospital (Shanghai First People’s Hospital), Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 100 Haining Rd, Shanghai 200080, China (shretina@sjtu.edu.cn).

Author Contributions: Drs Bo and Yan contributed equally to this study. Drs Wang and X. Sun had full access to all the data in the study and take responsibility for the integrity of the data and the accuracy of the data analysis.

Concept and design: Rosenfeld, Wang, X. Sun.

Acquisition, analysis, or interpretation of data: Bo, Yan, Shen, Song, M. Sun, Yu, Rosenfeld, Wang.

Drafting of the manuscript: Bo, Yan, Shen, Song, Rosenfeld.

Critical revision of the manuscript for important intellectual content: Bo, M. Sun, Yu, Rosenfeld, Wang, X. Sun.

Statistical analysis: Bo, Yan, Shen, M. Sun, Yu.

Obtained funding: Wang.

Administrative, technical, or material support: M. Sun.

Supervision: Wang, X. Sun.

Conflict of Interest Disclosures: Dr Rosenfeld reported receiving grants and personal fees from Carl Zeiss Meditec, Inc, outside the submitted work. Dr Wang reported receiving grants from National Natural Science Foundation of China during the conduct of the study and grants from Carl Zeiss Meditec, Inc, outside the submitted work. No other disclosures were reported.

Funding/Support: This study was supported by grants 81730026 (Dr X. Sun) and 81470640 (Dr Wang) from the National Natural Science Foundation of China, grant SHDC12016105 from the Frontier Project of Shanghai Hospital Development Center (Dr X. Sun), grant 2018ZX09301029001 from the National Major Scientific and Technological Special Project for “Significant New Drugs Development” during the Thirteenth Five-year Plan Period (Dr X. Sun), and grants 17411953000 (Dr X. Sun), 16411952900 (Dr Wang), and 16dz2251500 (Dr Wang) from the Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality.

Role of the Funder/Sponsor: The funding organizations had no role in the design and conduct of the study; collection, management, analysis, and interpretation of the data; preparation, review, or approval of the manuscript; and decision to submit the manuscript for publication.

Additional Contributions: We thank the patients for granting permission to publish this information.

References
1.
Yannuzzi  LA, Sorenson  J, Spaide  RF, Lipson  B.  Idiopathic polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (IPCV).  Retina. 1990;10(1):1-8. doi:10.1097/00006982-199010010-00001PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref
2.
Cheung  CMG, Lai  TYY, Ruamviboonsuk  P,  et al.  Polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy: definition, pathogenesis, diagnosis, and management.  Ophthalmology. 2018;125(5):708-724. doi:10.1016/j.ophtha.2017.11.019PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref
3.
Cheung  CM, Laude  A, Wong  W,  et al.  Improved specificity of polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy diagnosis using a modified EVEREST criteria.  Retina. 2015;35(7):1375-1380. doi:10.1097/IAE.0000000000000482PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref
4.
Balaratnasingam  C, Lee  WK, Koizumi  H, Dansingani  K, Inoue  M, Freund  KB.  Polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy: a distinct disease or manifestation of many?  Retina. 2016;36(1):1-8. doi:10.1097/IAE.0000000000000774PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref
5.
Inoue  M, Balaratnasingam  C, Freund  KB.  Optical coherence tomography angiography of polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy and polypoidal choroidal neovascularization.  Retina. 2015;35(11):2265-2274. doi:10.1097/IAE.0000000000000777PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref
6.
Wang  M, Zhou  Y, Gao  SS,  et al.  Evaluating polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy with optical coherence tomography angiography.  Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2016;57(9):OCT526-OCT532. doi:10.1167/iovs.15-18955PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref
7.
Cheung  CMG, Yanagi  Y, Akiba  M,  et al.  Improved detection and diagnosis of polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy using a combination of optical coherence tomography and optical coherence tomography angiography  [published online June 20, 2018].  Retina.. doi:10.1097/IAE.0000000000002228PubMedGoogle Scholar
8.
de Carlo  TE, Kokame  GT, Kaneko  KN, Lian  R, Lai  JC, Wee  R.  Sensitivity and specificity of detecting polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy with en face optical coherence tomography and optical coherence tomography angiography  [published online March 20, 2018].  Retina. . doi:10.1097/IAE.0000000000002139PubMedGoogle Scholar
9.
Chan  SY, Wang  Q, Wang  YX, Shi  XH, Jonas  JB, Wei  WB.  Polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy upon optical coherence tomographic angiography.  Retina. 2018;38(6):1187-1194. doi:10.1097/IAE.0000000000001702PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref
10.
Peiretti  E, Iovino  C, Sacconi  R, Caminiti  G, Querques  G.  Optical coherence tomography angiography characteristics of polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy secondary to chronic central serous chorioretinopathy  [published online June 27, 2018].  Retina.. doi:10.1097/IAE.0000000000002234PubMedGoogle Scholar
11.
Nakashizuka  H, Mitsumata  M, Okisaka  S,  et al.  Clinicopathologic findings in polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy.  Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2008;49(11):4729-4737. doi:10.1167/iovs.08-2134PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref
12.
Novais  EA, Adhi  M, Moult  EM,  et al.  Choroidal neovascularization analyzed on ultrahigh-speed swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography compared to spectral-domain optical coherence tomography angiography.  Am J Ophthalmol. 2016;164:80-88. doi:10.1016/j.ajo.2016.01.011PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref
13.
Cheung  CMG, Yanagi  Y, Mohla  A,  et al.  Characterization and differentiation of polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy using swept source optical coherence tomography angiography.  Retina. 2017;37(8):1464-1474. doi:10.1097/IAE.0000000000001391PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref
14.
Ting  DS, Cheung  GC, Lim  LS, Yeo  IY.  Comparison of swept source optical coherence tomography and spectral domain optical coherence tomography in polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy.  Clin Exp Ophthalmol. 2015;43(9):815-819. doi:10.1111/ceo.12580PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref
15.
World Medical Association.  World Medical Association Declaration of Helsinki: ethical principles for medical research involving human subjects.  JAMA. 2013;310(20):2191-2194. doi:10.1001/jama.2013.281053PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref
16.
Koh  A, Lee  WK, Chen  LJ,  et al.  EVEREST study: efficacy and safety of verteporfin photodynamic therapy in combination with ranibizumab or alone versus ranibizumab monotherapy in patients with symptomatic macular polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy.  Retina. 2012;32(8):1453-1464. doi:10.1097/IAE.0b013e31824f91e8PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref
17.
de Oliveira Dias  JR, Zhang  Q, Garcia  JMB,  et al.  Natural history of subclinical neovascularization in nonexudative age-related macular degeneration using swept-source OCT angiography.  Ophthalmology. 2018;125(2):255-266. doi:10.1016/j.ophtha.2017.08.030PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref
18.
Zhang  Q, Zhang  A, Lee  CS,  et al.  Projection artifact removal improves visualization and quantitation of macular neovascularization imaged by optical coherence tomography angiography.  Ophthalmol Retina. 2017;1(2):124-136. doi:10.1016/j.oret.2016.08.005PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref
19.
Ross  RD, Gitter  KA, Cohen  G, Schomaker  KS.  Idiopathic polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy associated with retinal arterial macroaneurysm and hypertensive retinopathy.  Retina. 1996;16(2):105-111. doi:10.1097/00006982-199616020-00003PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref
20.
Watanabe  G, Fujii  H, Kishi  S.  Imaging of choroidal hemodynamics in eyes with polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy using laser speckle phenomenon.  Jpn J Ophthalmol. 2008;52(3):175-181. doi:10.1007/s10384-007-0521-7PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref
21.
Yuzawa  M, Mori  R, Kawamura  A.  The origins of polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy.  Br J Ophthalmol. 2005;89(5):602-607. doi:10.1136/bjo.2004.049296PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref
22.
Okubo  A, Sameshima  M, Uemura  A, Kanda  S, Ohba  N.  Clinicopathological correlation of polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy revealed by ultrastructural study.  Br J Ophthalmol. 2002;86(10):1093-1098. doi:10.1136/bjo.86.10.1093PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref
23.
Li  M, Dolz-Marco  R, Messinger  JD,  et al.  Clinicopathologic correlation of aneurysmal type 1 neovascularization in age-related macular degeneration.  Ophthalmol Retina. 2019;3(2):99-111. doi:10.1016/j.oret.2018.08.008Google ScholarCrossref
24.
Oishi  A, Kojima  H, Mandai  M,  et al.  Comparison of the effect of ranibizumab and verteporfin for polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy: 12-month LAPTOP study results.  Am J Ophthalmol. 2013;156(4):644-651. doi:10.1016/j.ajo.2013.05.024PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref
25.
Kokame  GT, Yeung  L, Teramoto  K, Lai  JC, Wee  R.  Polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy exudation and hemorrhage: results of monthly ranibizumab therapy at one year.  Ophthalmologica. 2014;231(2):94-102. doi:10.1159/000354072PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref
26.
Rajendram  R, Fraser-Bell  S, Kaines  A,  et al.  A 2-year prospective randomized controlled trial of intravitreal bevacizumab or laser therapy (BOLT) in the management of diabetic macular edema: 24-month data: report 3.  Arch Ophthalmol. 2012;130(8):972-979. doi:10.1001/archophthalmol.2012.393PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref
27.
Martin  DF, Maguire  MG, Fine  SL,  et al; Comparison of Age-related Macular Degeneration Treatments Trials (CATT) Research Group.  Ranibizumab and bevacizumab for treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration: two-year results.  Ophthalmology. 2012;119(7):1388-1398. doi:10.1016/j.ophtha.2012.03.053PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref
28.
Martin  DF, Maguire  MG, Ying  GS, Grunwald  JE, Fine  SL, Jaffe  GJ; CATT Research Group.  Ranibizumab and bevacizumab for neovascular age-related macular degeneration.  N Engl J Med. 2011;364(20):1897-1908. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa1102673PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref
29.
Akaza  E, Matsumoto  Y, Yuzawa  M.  Pulsation in polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy [in Japanese].  Nippon Ganka Gakkai Zasshi. 2006;110(4):288-292.PubMedGoogle Scholar
30.
Chen  Y, Yang  Z, Xia  F, Ning  H, Hua  R.  The blood flow characteristics of polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy and the choroidal remodelling process after photodynamic therapy.  Lasers Surg Med. 2018;50(5):427-432. doi:10.1002/lsm.22801PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref
31.
Alshahrani  ST, Al Shamsi  HN, Kahtani  ES, Ghazi  NG.  Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography findings in polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy suggest a type 1 neovascular growth pattern.  Clin Ophthalmol. 2014;8:1689-1695. doi:10.2147/OPTH.S68471PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref
32.
Terasaki  H, Miyake  Y, Suzuki  T, Nakamura  M, Nagasaka  T.  Polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy treated with macular translocation: clinical pathological correlation.  Br J Ophthalmol. 2002;86(3):321-327. doi:10.1136/bjo.86.3.321PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref
33.
Liang  S, Shi  X, Rosenfeld  PJ, Li  X.  Type 2 choroidal neovascularisation in polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy: a retrospective case series.  Br J Ophthalmol. 2018;102(11):1570-1574. doi:10.1136/bjophthalmol-2017-311518PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref
34.
Dansingani  KK, Balaratnasingam  C, Klufas  MA, Sarraf  D, Freund  KB.  Optical coherence tomography angiography of shallow irregular pigment epithelial detachments in pachychoroid spectrum disease.  Am J Ophthalmol. 2015;160(6):1243-1254.e2. doi:10.1016/j.ajo.2015.08.028PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref
×