Focal choroidal excavation: Cause or effect?

Long-term follow-up demonstrates change in conformation shape of the focal choroidal excavation lesions

PURPOSE

This study aims to present long-term observation of 5 eyes with focal choroidal excavation (FCE), focusing on morphological changes in conformity of the lesion.

METHODS

A retrospective case series was conducted, including 5 eyes of 5 patients with FCE. The study utilized multimodal imaging including color fundus photography, optical coherence tomography (OCT), enhanced depth imaging OCT (EDI-OCT), fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA), fundus autofluorescence (FAF), red free imaging, and OCT angiography.

RESULTS

The mean age at diagnosis was 51 ± 10.65 years, with a mean follow-up period 37 ± 13.59 months. All cases were unilateral, with 1 presenting FCE as an isolated lesion, and one patient exhibiting 2 FCEs in one eye. The mean choroidal thickness measured by EDI-OCT was 268.2 ± 63.39 μm in the affected eye. One patient displayed choroidal thickening and pachyvessels. Of the 5 eyes, one had conforming and 4 non-conforming FCE. We observed a conversion in conformity in all patients, with 4 cases transitioning from non-conforming FCE to conforming type (3 spontaneously, 1 treatment-induced). In conforming FCE, a hyporeflective space appeared twice between neuroretina and retinal pigment epithelium with spontaneous regression.

CONCLUSION

We observed change in shape from the conforming to non-conforming FCE and vice versa in all patients. We consider this small change in the hyporeflective space as non-pathologic and clinically insignificant.

Multimodal imaging of focal choroidal excavation and macular choroidal cavitation associated to choroidal neovascularization

Purpose: To report multimodal imaging features of an unusual case of multiple focal choroidal excavations (FCE) associated to macular intrachoroidal cavitations (ICC) and choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in a non-myopic patient with normal choroidal thickness. Methods: Observational case report. Results: A 69-year-old non-myopic male patient with history of macular CNV of unknown etiology in the right eye (RE), initially treated with Bevacizumab intravitreal injections with significant improvement of visual acuity. He presented with acute vision loss in the same eye related to recurrent CNV exudation. Multimodal imaging of the RE confirmed the diagnosis of active type 2 CNV, associated to multiple FCE. Besides, it highlighted incidental unusual macular ICC in the same eye. Choroidal thickness was within normal limits (217 μm). Conclusion: Focal choroidal excavations and intrachoroidal cavitations can be observed in emmetropic patients in the absence of pachychoroid disease. In presence of CNV of unknown etiology, complete multimodal imaging can be of a great help to better define choroidal anomalies, allowing structural and vascular correlations between different lesions. Key words: Focal choroidal excavation; Choroidal cavitation; Multimodal imaging.

CHOROIDAL VASCULARITY AND VISUAL OUTCOMES IN MACULA-OFF RHEGMATOGENOUS RETINAL DETACHMENT

PURPOSE

To investigate the association between visual outcomes and choroidal changes in patients with macula-off rhegmatogenous retinal detachment.

METHODS

This study retrospectively reviewed 63 eyes of patients with macula-off rhegmatogenous retinal detachment who underwent vitrectomy. Their fellow eyes were analyzed as a control group. The choroidal vascularity index (CVI), ellipsoid zone/external limiting membrane integrity, central foveal thickness, and subfoveal choroidal thickness were documented and analyzed. Linear regression analyses were performed to identify factors affecting the final best-corrected visual acuity.

RESULTS

Eyes with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment showed increased CVI (68.8 ± 4.1) compared with the control group (66.1 ± 8.8, P = 0.028). Multivariate linear regression analysis revealed that patients with a poor final best-corrected visual acuity had a longer detachment duration ( P = 0.002), worse baseline best-corrected visual acuity ( P = 0.034), thinner central foveal thickness ( P = 0.005), and greater CVI ( P = 0.001) and were more likely to be tamponated with silicone oil ( P = 0.001). Choroidal vascularity index was particularly increased in eyes with poor ellipsoid zone/external limiting membrane integrity, prolonged detachment duration, thin central foveal thickness, and worse best-corrected visual acuity.

CONCLUSION

Increased CVI could indicate poor visual outcomes in patients with macula-off rhegmatogenous retinal detachment. Choroidal remodeling could be associated with the disruption of the ellipsoid zone/external limiting membrane integrity.

DEVELOPMENT OF FOCAL CHOROIDAL EXCAVATION AFTER ANTIVASCULAR ENDOTHELIAL GROWTH FACTOR THERAPY FOR POLYPOIDAL CHOROIDAL VASCULOPATHY

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to describe a case of polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy, showing a newly developed focal choroidal excavation during a 4-year follow-up period with multiple intravitreal antivascular endothelial growth factor injections.

METHODS

This study was a case report.

RESULTS

A 64-year-old man was referred for treatment of age-related macular degeneration in his left eye. His corrected visual acuity at initial presentation was 20/20 in both the right and left eye. Optical coherence tomography of the left eye revealed a steep retinal pigment epithelial detachment and subretinal fluid, and indocyanine green angiography confirmed a polypoidal lesion, leading to the diagnosis of polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy with pachychoroid features. Thereafter, antivascular endothelial growth factor intravitreal injections were continued on a pro re nata basis. Two years after the initial presentation, the sharp pigment epithelial detachment began to shrink, and a novel focal choroidal excavation gradually emerged surrounding the pigment epithelial detachment with an inner choroidal layer attenuation.

CONCLUSION

Multiple antivascular endothelial growth factor injections for polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy resulted in atrophy of the polypoidal lesion and a decrease in the blood flow in the adjacent inner choroidal vasculature, leading to the formation of a novel focal choroidal excavation.

Acquired Focal Choroidal Excavation Secondary to Pachychoroid Choroidal Neovascular Membrane After Central Serous Chorioretinopathy

Purpose: To report a case of acquired conforming-type focal choroidal excavation (FCE) secondary to a pachychoroid choroidal neovascular membrane (CNVM) triggered by central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR). Methods: A case and its findings were analyzed. Results: A 54-year-old Asian man who had spontaneous resolution of CSCR in the right eye presented with a pachychoroid CNVM and FCE 1 year after the initial CSCR diagnosis. Intravitreal antivascular endothelial growth factor injections were initiated, and the subretinal fluid and intraretinal hemorrhage resolved. The patient was followed for FCE progression for 3 years. Conclusions: Acquired FCE can occur secondary to CSCR and pachychoroid CNVM. The pathogenesis may be focal choroidal ischemia, choroidal vascular collapse, and fibrosis leading to choroidal excavation. This case highlights the progression of the spectrum of pachychoroid disorders from CSCR, pachychoroid CNVM, and subsequent acquired confirming-type FCE. Further research is needed to assess other diseases leading to acquired FCE and to determine the underlying mechanism.

A case of extrafoveal focal choroidal excavation

Purpose

To describe an extrafoveal presentation of focal choroidal excavation and corresponding imaging findings.

Methods

Retrospective case report.

Patients

Single patient with diagnosis of extrafoveal focal choroidal excavation.

Results

A 28-year-old man was referred for evaluation of a suspicious lesion in his right posterior fundus. Functional examination demonstrated best-corrected visual acuity of 20/40 in the right eye and 20/20 in the left eye. Ophthalmoscopy exam and fundus photography revealed a yellowish lesion superior to the fovea of the right eye. The lesion was hyperfluorescent on fundus autofluorescence imaging and late phase fluorescein angiography demonstrated staining of the lesion without leakage. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) of the lesion was consistent with focal choroidal excavation. Five months after presentation, the patient's vision, exam, and imaging remained stable.

Discussion

Focal choroidal excavation is a recently recognized clinical entity that is often incidentally found, and presents asymptomatic or with mildly decreased visual acuity in the affected eye. It has characteristic findings on optical coherence tomography (OCT) that can be used to distinguish it from other retinal lesions that may appear similar on ophthalmoscopy. We present the case of an uncommon extrafoveal presentation of FCE at a relatively young age, which may represent either a congenital abnormality or the sequelae of an unidentified chronic process. While most FCE remain stable, patients are often followed for lesion progression and the possibility of choroidal vascular pathology which might necessitate intervention.

The Contemporary Role of Photodynamic Therapy in the Treatment of Pachychoroid Diseases

Recent advances in retinal imaging technology have improved our understanding in the pathogenesis and evolvement of various chorioretinal diseases. Central serous chorioretinopathy and polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy are now recognized to belong to the same spectrum of disorders known as pachychoroid diseases. Pachychoroid diseases have similar pathogenesis pathway and common characteristics of thickened choroid, dilated outer choroidal vessels, and thinning of choriocapillaris. More disease entities have been identified to belong to this disease spectrum. Photodynamic therapy can induce choroidal hypoperfusion, remodeling of abnormal choroidal vessels, and reduction of choroidal congestion. It is known to be an effective treatment for chronic central serous chorioretinopathy and polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy. Many new studies are being performed to investigate its efficacy in other pachychoroid diseases. In this review, we provided an overview of the rationale, efficacy, and treatment strategies of photodynamic therapy in different pachychoroid diseases and discussed its role in the management along with other treatment modalities with most updated clinical evidence.

Pachychoroid neovasculopathy: A comparative review on pathology, clinical features, and therapy

There have been major changes in our understanding of choroidal diseases in the last decade owing to multiple retinal and choroidal imaging related advances. A major conceptual pivot is establishment of pachychoroid and its spectrum of clinical disorders: pachychoroid pigment epitheliopathy, central serous chorioretinopathy, pachychoroid neovasculopathy, polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy/aneurysmal type 1 neovascularization, peripapillary pachychoroid syndrome, and focal choroidal excavation. However, considerable overlaps in manifestations and therapeutics of these disorders make differentiation amongst them difficult. This review is focused on pathogenesis and clinical aspects of pachychoroid neovasculopathy (PNV). Since PNV was defined as a separate entity around 5 years ago, there have been numerous contrasting observations surrounding it. We review and summarize these studies, and also compare PNV with other disorders of the pachychoroid spectrum in detail. There are important differences between etiologies of neovascular age related macular degeneration and PNV. Yet the current treatment strategies for PNV have been extrapolated from the trials for the former. Future research needs to validate this assumption with long-term results.

Case Report: Focal Choroidal Excavation: Conversion from Conforming to Nonconforming in a Pregnant Female

SIGNIFICANCE

Although rarely seen, clinicians should closely monitor patients, especially pregnant patients with focal choroidal excavation (FCE), as it can convert between subtypes and has been linked to pachychoroidal disease and potential for vision loss.

PURPOSE

This study aimed to report a case of the conversion of conforming FCE to nonconforming FCE with spontaneous resolution in a pregnant female.

CASE REPORT

A 35-year-old Indian woman presented with a slightly decreased vision in the right eye. The patient was 3 months pregnant at this visit. Her ocular history included stable conforming FCE in both eyes that was diagnosed 1 year earlier. Retinal pigmentary changes were noted in both eyes and consistent with previous examinations as being conforming FCEs in both eyes. Optical coherence tomography through the pigmented changes revealed FCE in the right eye with overlying serous fluid, with the left eye showing stable conforming FCE. She was diagnosed with a nonconforming FCE in the right eye secondary to her pregnancy. She was monitored with subsequent visits showing spontaneous resolution of the fluid and conversion back to a conforming FCE.

CONCLUSIONS

This case highlights the conversion of a conforming FCE to a nonconforming FCE with spontaneous resolution in a pregnant female. Similarities are seen in terms of pathophysiology with central serous chorioretinopathy, a fellow pachychoroidal disease, which also has pregnancy as a risk factor. Risk factors in pregnant patients such as increased cortisol and increased ocular blood flow may play an important part in the pathophysiology of the conditions, as they both result in choroidal hyperpermeability. Frequent monitoring and follow-up times are suggested for the patients. Lifelong monitoring is also indicated, as reoccurrences have been reported. Further research is needed at this time to elucidate the exact etiology of FCE and conversions between conforming and nonconforming FCE.

CHOROIDAL INFLAMMATION AND CHORIOCAPILLARIS ISCHEMIA IN FOCAL CHOROIDAL EXCAVATION IN COMPARISON TO PACHYCHOROID NEOVASCULOPATHY

PURPOSE

To investigate the choriocapillaris and choroidal characteristics of focal choroidal excavation (FCE) to establish pathomechanisms of the disease.

METHODS

Thirty eyes with FCE, 26 eyes with pachychoroid neovasculopathy (PNV), and 25 participants without any conditions (control group) were analyzed retrospectively. The thickness of both choriocapillaris equivalent and whole choroid was measured at three different points: under the lesion (excavation or neovascularization), in the normal retina, and in the fovea of fellow eye. Indocyanine green angiographic images were collected to confirm choriocapillaris ischemia and the presence of choroidal inflammation.

RESULTS

In both FCE and PNV, choriocapillaris-equivalent attenuation was observed under the lesion compared with other region of the retina (28.1 ± 11.3 μm vs. 69.4 ± 20.0 μm in FCE; 23.5 ± 9.7 μm vs. 62.3 ± 14.7 μm in PNV; both P < 0.001). We also observed focal thinning of the whole choroid under the lesion (149.7 ± 88.7 μm vs. 296.6 ± 83.2 μm; P < 0.001) in FCE but not in PNV. Pachyvessels distribution on optical coherence tomography and numerous dark areas on indocyanine green angiography implied that choroidal inflammation was related to the FCE occurrence.

CONCLUSION

Choriocapillaris ischemia was related to both FCE and PNV. The choroidal thinning under the excavation and adjacent pachyvessels observed in FCE suggested that focal inflammation and scarring may contribute to choriocapillaris ischemia and eventual retinal pigment epithelium retraction with dysfunction in the pathomechanism.

Focal choroidal excavation: review of literature

Focal choroidal excavation (FCE) is defined as an area of concavity in choroid detected on optical coherence tomography. These are mostly present in macular region without evidence of accompanying scleral ectasia or posterior staphyloma. Though initially considered to be congenital, increasing number of cases have been identified in association with other choroidal pathologies such as central serous choroidopathy, choroidal neovascularisation, polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy, choroiditis, choroidal tumours. In this review article, we aim to elaborate on the morphology, pathogenesis and differential diagnosis of FCE and specifically discuss the spectrum of diseases with known association along with the impact of their treatment on FCE

Bilateral Multiple Focal Choroidal Excavations in a Patient with Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria (PNH)

Focal choroidal excavation (FCE) is an unusual configuration characterized by focal thinning and pitting of the choroid in the absence of staphyloma or scleral ectasia. The etiology and clinical implications of FCE are currently unknown. We report a case of bilateral multiple FCEs in a patient with a long history of paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH). Focal choriocapillaris thinning and hyperreflectivity of the adjacent outer nuclear layer were revealed by spectral domain optical coherence tomography, which suggests the occlusion of the choriocapillaries and secondary degeneration of the above photoreceptors. We hypothesize that thrombophilia in the condition of PNH played an important role in the formation of FCE. Although there is no histopathological evidence to support the association between the choroid changes and PNH, this case may offer new clues as for the etiology of FCE.