Fluorescein angiography compared to three-dimensional measurements by the retinal thickness analyzer in classic choroidal neovascularization

Purpose: To compare and correlate imaging of classic subfoveal
choroidal neovascularization (CNV) with noninvasive 3-dimensional
imaging by the retinal thickness analyzer (RTA) to conventional
fluorescein angiography (FA). Methods: A total of 29 eyes of 29
consecutive patients with predominantly classic CNV eligible for
photodynamic therapy underwent FA and RTA imaging. The FA
dimensions of the CNV were measured independently by two graders.
With the RTA, masked to FA the size of the CNV itself as imaged in
3-dimensional reconstruction, the size of significantly thickened
retina overlying the CNV and the maximum retinal thickness were
measured. Results: The mean diameter of the CNV determined from
3-dimensional RTA reconstructions showed an excellent correlation
with measurements from FA (r = 0.91, p < 0.001). The area of
retinal thickening was by a mean of 0.7 mm in diameter larger and
correlated moderately well with the size of the CNV on FA (r =
0.65, p < 0.001). In contrast, there was no correlation between
the absolute retinal thickness and the CNV size on FA. Conclusions:
Noninvasive quantitative mapping of predominantly classic CNV by
RTA is feasible and also allows 3-dimensional measurement of the
lesion itself. The results correlate well with FA assessment but
visualize different properties of the disease. Copyright (c) 2007
S. Karger AG, Basel.