Atypical perifoveal exudative vascular anomalous complex (PEVAC) with multifocal and bilateral presentation

Exudative vascular anomalous complex-like lesion of the peripapillary area

PURPOSE

Perifoveal exudative vascular anomalous complex is an uncommon retinal lesion of idiopathic origin characteristically described as an isolated, aneurysmal lesion of the perifoveal region. We report an unusual presentation of an exudative vascular anomalous complex-like lesion affecting the peripapillary area.

CASE DESCRIPTION

A 69-year-old diabetic woman presented with blurred vision in her left eye for two months. Fundus examination of the left eye showed a small, reddish-orange lesion just supratemporal to the optic disc with perifoveal hard exudates and retinal thickening. Fundus fluorescein angiography demonstrated a peripapillary hyperfluorescent lesion with minimal leakage. Ocular coherence tomography showed an oval structure extending throughout the outer and inner plexiform and nuclear layers with a hyper-reflective wall accompanied by subfoveal and intraretinal fluid suggestive of an eVAC-like lesion in the peripapillary area. Intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor injection was given, and the lesion persisted even three weeks after the injection. Later, focal laser photocoagulation of the aneurysmal lesion was done. At 6 weeks follow-up, a complete resolution of the aneurysmal lesion with a marked decrease in retinal edema and an improvement of the visual acuity was observed.

CONCLUSION

Exudative intraretinal aneurysmal lesions can occur in areas other than perifoveal area. OCT is an useful investigation for knowing their characteristics and the response to treatment. These aneurysmal lesions irrespective of their location can be called by the name eVAC-like or more aptly retinal capillary macro aneurysms (RCM).

Laser photocoagulation of a hypofluorescent perifoveal exudative vascular anomalous complex/capillary macroaneurysm

PURPOSE

To report successful treatment of a hypofluorescent perifoveal exudative vascular anomalous complex (PEVAC)/capillary macroaneurysm.

CASE DESCRIPTION

A 63 year old healthy gentleman had a perifoveal isolated aneurysmal lesion with white rim. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) showed cystoid macular edema (CME) with neurosensory detachment. The aneurysmal lesion was seen in the inner retina as a hyperreflective intraretinal structure with a heterogenous lumen suggestive of PEVAC/capillary macroaneurysm. OCT angiography showed a capillary loop and a slightly hyperreflective lesion at the tip of the loop in the superficial capillary plexus slab. Minimal reduction in edema was noted following one dose of intravitreal triamcinolone (2 mg). Fundus fluorescein angiography performed at 6 weeks demonstrated the capillary loop, but the aneurysmal lesion remained hypofluorescent with no definite leak in the late phase. Few perifoveal microaneurysms were seen in both the eyes. Six weeks later, focal laser photocoagulation of the aneurysmal lesion was performed, which resulted in complete resolution of macular edema at 1 month. There was no recurrence of macular edema till his recent follow up, which is 4 month post laser.

DISCUSSION

PEVAC is typically described as unifocal lesion and is not associated with other retinal vascular abnormalities. But in this case, in addition to the lesion, perifoveal microaneurysms were seen in both the eyes. Despite the absence of leak on fundus fluorescein angiography, targeted focal laser photocoagulation resulted in complete resolution of macular edema at 1 month.

CONCLUSION

Laser photocoagulation would be helpful even in hypofluorescent PEVAC/capillary macroaneurysms.

Intraretinal Macroaneurysms and Multimodal Imaging: A Retrospective Analysis

Purpose

To analyze the multimodal imaging characteristics of intraretinal macroaneurysms.

Patients and Methods

Intraretinal aneurysms larger than 150 μm in diameter on fluorescein angiography were termed as intraretinal macroaneurysm and grouped as primary and secondary according to the absence or presence of any coexisting posterior segment diseases.

Results

A total of 20 intraretinal macroaneurysms were observed in 18 eyes of 18 patients. Mean age of the cohort was 65.44 ± 9.14 years (Range; 49-82 years). Mean diameters of intraretinal macroaneurysms were 238.20 ± 61.12 μm (Range; 163.00-292.50 μm) and 242.72 ± 49.58 μm (Range; 168.00-328.00 μm) on fluorescein angiography and optical coherence tomography, respectively. Primary group had 10 eyes with 11 intraretinal macroaneurysms, whereas eight eyes had nine intraretinal macroaneurysms in the secondary group. Three of the eight eyes (37.5%) had diabetic retinopathy, four (50%), retinal vein occlusion, and one (12.5%), posterior uveitis in the secondary group. No statistically significant differences were found between the two groups in terms of age, sex, presence of intraretinal or subretinal fluid, the mean age, the mean central macular thickness, the mean distance of intraretinal macroaneurysms from the fovea, the mean diameter of intraretinal macroaneurysms measured on fluorescein angiography, and the mean diameter of intraretinal macroaneurysms measured on optical coherence tomography. Presence of intraretinal fluid was significantly more frequent than the presence of subretinal fluid in all eyes (p = 0.004).

Conclusion

Intraretinal macroaneurysms are diagnosed more and more with the utilization of multimodal imaging techniques. We propose a simple classification system in order to help achieving a standardized terminology and ensure consistent understanding. The classification can be simplified as primary or secondary intraretinal macroaneurysm according to the absence or presence of the associated posterior segment disorders.

Selective Focal Laser Therapy as the Primary Treatment for Exudative Perifoveal Vascular Anomalous Complex (ePVAC): Case Series and Literature Review

Perifoveal anomalous exudative vascular complex (PEVAC) was first described in 2011. Since then, individual clinical cases and a couple of case series have been published, and their characteristics have been studied in multi-modal images. To date, there is no consensus on its treatment. Initially, it was thought that PEVACs could be left to spontaneous evolution because they presented a slow progression. But it has been shown that the growth of the lesion covers a spectrum from non-exudative lesions to PEVAC with vision impairment over time. We present an updated bibliographic review of this pathology. We explain the changes in the diagnostic criteria that have been undergone. And we focus the discussion on selective treatment with focal laser, which has shown an excellent anatomical response and visual improvement or stabilization in the cases described and in our series of three patients systematically treated with focal laser. [Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina 2023;54:43-49.].

Long-Term Resolution of Perifoveal Exudative Vascular Anomalous Complex after Intravitreal Injections of Anti-Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor

Perifoveal exudative vascular anomalous complex (PEVAC) is a perifoveal aneurysmal vascular lesion found in healthy subjects. A 68-year-old woman was diagnosed with a typical unilateral and unifocal PEVAC lesion after extensive multimodal imaging and was treated with three-monthly intravitreal injections of ranibizumab. An immediate and complete resolution of the intraretinal fluid was observed. Visual acuity returned to 20/20 without any recurrence of the exudative signs along the 5 years of follow-up. Therefore, an initial anti-VEGF treatment with three-monthly intravitreal injections may be considered as a first-line treatment in PEVAC lesions and may result in long-term preservation of visual acuity.

Multimodal imaging comparison of perifoveal exudative vascular anomalous complex and resembling lesions

Purpose

Perifoveal exudative vascular anomalous complex (PEVAC) was initially described as an isolated aneurysmal lesion in healthy eyes. Similar aneurysmal abnormalities may occur in association with retinal vascular diseases such as diabetic retinopathy or retinal vein occlusions (PEVAC‐resembling). The aim of this study was to compare several imaging characteristics of PEVAC and PEVAC‐resembling lesions.

Methods

Ten eyes with a PEVAC and 27 eyes with a PEVAC‐resembling lesion were included in this cross‐sectional study. They were all imaged with optical coherence tomography (OCT), OCT angiography (OCT‐A) and colour fundus photography (CFP). Several clinical, morphological and vascular characteristics were assessed and compared between both PEVAC types.

Results

All PEVAC lesions were unilateral, while PEVAC‐resembling lesions appeared bilateral in 23% of patients (p > 0.05). Unilateral multifocal PEVAC‐resembling lesions were more frequently observed (56%) than unilateral multifocal PEVAC lesions (10%, p < 0.01). Furthermore, 90% of the PEVAC lesions were located within 500 µm from the centre of the fovea, while this was only true for 56% of the PEVAC‐resembling lesions (p > 0.05). No notable differences were observed in other studied characteristics.

Conclusions

The clinical, morphological and vascular features of PEVAC and PEVAC‐resembling lesions are similar based on multimodal imaging. Given the bilaterality and multifocality seen in PEVAC‐resembling lesions, an underlying retinal vascular disease may stimulate the quantity of aneurysmal abnormalities. Due to the similarities with PEVAC‐resembling lesions, PEVAC may also be considered a microangiopathy but with an unknown origin.