CHARACTERIZING RETINAL–CHOROIDAL ANASTOMOSIS IN MACULAR TELANGIECTASIA TYPE 2 WITH OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY ANGIOGRAPHY. Issue 1 (January 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Breazzano, Mark P.; Yannuzzi, Lawrence A.; Spaide, Richard F.
• Is Part Of: Retina. Volume 40:Issue 1(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-01
• Subjects: optical coherence tomography angiography -- macular telangiectasia Type 2 -- retinal–choroidal anastomosis -- right-angle veins -- diabetes mellitus -- ellipsoid zone defect; Retina -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Retinal Diseases; Vitreous Body; 617.735
• DOI: 10.1097/IAE.0000000000002619
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0275-004X

Abstract

Abstract : Purpose: To characterize structural and angiographic findings in macular telangiectasia Type 2 (MacTel 2) and examine associations with visual acuity. Methods: MacTel 2 patients with complete ophthalmologic examination, including fundus photography, autofluorescence, spectral-domain optical coherence tomography, and projection-resolved optical coherence tomography angiography, were retrospectively evaluated. Results: There were 43 eyes of 22 patients with a mean age 63.9 (±10.3) years. Six patients had diabetes. Twenty-one eyes (48.8%) had retinal–choroidal anastomoses (RCAs) without any evidence of neovascularization extending laterally in a plane above or below the retinal pigment epithelium. None of the eyes had hemorrhage, lipid, or signs of subretinal exudation. When present, an average of 55 (±33.7) individual RCAs were clustered primarily in temporal juxtafoveal region of involved eyes. Right-angle veins were seen in all 21 eyes with RCAs, and hyperpigmentation was present in 18 ( P < 0.001 for both). A conical collection of hyperreflective material spanning from Bruch membrane past external limiting membrane of ≥200- μ m basal diameter was found in 21 eyes and labeled outer retinal hyperreflective lesion. Retinal–choroidal anastomoses occurred in clusters, often within the outer retinal hyperreflective lesion. This lesion colocalized with focal thinning of the outer nuclear layer and was surrounded by a larger defect in the ellipsoid zone. The presence of diabetes ( P = 0.015), outer retinal hyperreflective lesion ( P = 0.006), RCA ( P = 0.005), and ellipsoid zone defect extent ( P < 0.001) were associated with decreased visual acuity. Conclusion: Retinal–choroidal anastomoses occur in eyes with MacTel 2 without signs of exudation. Retinal–choroidal anastomoses occur in numerous clusters particularly in the temporal juxtafoveal macula. Diabetes, ellipsoid zone defect extent, RCAs, and the outer retinal hyperreflective lesion predict poorer vision in MacTel 2. Abstract : Retinal–choroidal anastomosis occurs in macular telangiectasia Type 2 and is associated with right-angle veins, focal hyperpigmentation, retinal subsidence, and large ellipsoid zone defects. These features colocalize with an outer retinal hyperreflective lesion detectable by conventional optical coherence tomography.