Objective: To study the morphological features of submacular choroidal neovascularization in central exudative chorioretinopathy (CEC) using optical coherence tomography (OCT).
Methods: Using OCT, we examined 21 consecutive eyes (20 patients; 8 men, 12 women; mean age 38 years) with central exudative chorioretinopathy. Results of OCT were compared with fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA) and indocyanine green angiography (ICGA).
Results: Choroidal neovascularization appeared in subsensory retinal space anterior to the retinal pigment epithelium as a highly or moderately reflective mass, which protruded from the retinal pigment epithelium in 16 of 21 eyes. In five eyes, choroidal neovascularization appeared as a highly reflective fusiform or irregular mass at the level of retinal pigment epithelium and choriocapillaris. Nine of 21 eyes were associated with serous neurosensory retina detachment, 6 eyes with hemorrhagic pigment epithelium detachment (PED) and 14 eyes with edema and thickening of sensory retina. In 3-12 months (mean 6 months), choroidal neovascularization of 17 eyes with PDT regressed and its morphological features changed. The results obtained from OCT, FFA and ICGA could be supplemented with each other.
Conclusions: OCT can be used to confirm the morphological features, location and size of submacular choroidal neovascularization. Choroidal neovascularization appears as a highly or moderately reflective round mass which protrudes from the retinal pigment epithelium in most cases. The morphology and the size of this mass may change after treatment and during follow-up.