Choroidal vasculitis as a biomarker of inflammation of the choroid. Indocyanine Green Angiography (ICGA) spearheading for diagnosis and follow-up, an imaging tutorial

Abstract Background Indocyanine green angiography (ICGA) is the gold standard to diagnose, evaluate and follow up choroidal inflammation. It allows clinicians to precisely determine the type and extension of choroidal vasculitis in the two main choroidal structures, the choriocapillaris and the chor...

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Main Authors: Ioannis Papasavvas, William R. Tucker, Alessandro Mantovani, Lorenzo Fabozzi, Carl P. Herbort
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SpringerOpen 2024-12-01
Series:Journal of Ophthalmic Inflammation and Infection
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12348-024-00442-w
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author Ioannis Papasavvas
William R. Tucker
Alessandro Mantovani
Lorenzo Fabozzi
Carl P. Herbort
author_facet Ioannis Papasavvas
William R. Tucker
Alessandro Mantovani
Lorenzo Fabozzi
Carl P. Herbort
author_sort Ioannis Papasavvas
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Indocyanine green angiography (ICGA) is the gold standard to diagnose, evaluate and follow up choroidal inflammation. It allows clinicians to precisely determine the type and extension of choroidal vasculitis in the two main choroidal structures, the choriocapillaris and the choroidal stroma. The presence of choroidal vasculitis is often overlooked by the physician who often does not include ICGA in the investigation of posterior uveitis. Purpose To describe choroidal vasculitis by analysing its ICGA signs in order to investigate and follow choroiditis and determine the pathophysiological mechanisms of inflammation of choroidal vessels. Methods The tutorial is presenting the normal findings in a non-inflamed choroid and the semiology of diverse choroidal vasculitis conditions, followed by practical illustrations using typical cases. Results The two identified patterns of choroidal vasculitis corresponded on one side to choriocapillaritis appearing as areas of hypofluorescence depicting the involvement and extension of choriocapillaris inflammatory non-perfusion. The vasculitis of the choriocapillaris goes from limited and reversible when distal endcapillary vessels are involved such as in Multiple Evanescent White Dot Syndrome (MEWDS) to more severe involvement in Acute Posterior Multifocal Placoid Pigment Epitheliopathy (APMPPE), Multifocal Choroiditis (MFC) or Serpiginous Choroiditis (SC) with more pronounced non-perfusion causing scars if not treated diligently. On the other side, stromal choroidal vasculitis is characterised by leaking hyperfluorescent vessels that appear fuzzy and at the origin of late diffuse choroidal hyperfluorescence. Conclusion Choroidal vasculitis is present in almost all patients with inflammatory choroidal involvement, occlusive in case of choriocapillaritis and leaky in stromal choroiditis causing vessel hyperfluorescence, fuzziness of the choroidal vessels and late diffuse stromal hyperfluorescence on ICGA. Systemic vasculitis entities produce occlusive vasculitis of large choroidal vessels.
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spelling doaj-art-aaa983237902450bb26dce5fa1dec32a2024-12-08T12:40:56ZengSpringerOpenJournal of Ophthalmic Inflammation and Infection1869-57602024-12-0114113610.1186/s12348-024-00442-wChoroidal vasculitis as a biomarker of inflammation of the choroid. Indocyanine Green Angiography (ICGA) spearheading for diagnosis and follow-up, an imaging tutorialIoannis Papasavvas0William R. Tucker1Alessandro Mantovani2Lorenzo Fabozzi3Carl P. Herbort4Centre for Ophthalmic Specialised Care (COS)Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS TrustDepartment of Ophthalmology, Valduce HospitalMoorfields Eye Hospital NHS TrustCentre for Ophthalmic Specialised Care (COS)Abstract Background Indocyanine green angiography (ICGA) is the gold standard to diagnose, evaluate and follow up choroidal inflammation. It allows clinicians to precisely determine the type and extension of choroidal vasculitis in the two main choroidal structures, the choriocapillaris and the choroidal stroma. The presence of choroidal vasculitis is often overlooked by the physician who often does not include ICGA in the investigation of posterior uveitis. Purpose To describe choroidal vasculitis by analysing its ICGA signs in order to investigate and follow choroiditis and determine the pathophysiological mechanisms of inflammation of choroidal vessels. Methods The tutorial is presenting the normal findings in a non-inflamed choroid and the semiology of diverse choroidal vasculitis conditions, followed by practical illustrations using typical cases. Results The two identified patterns of choroidal vasculitis corresponded on one side to choriocapillaritis appearing as areas of hypofluorescence depicting the involvement and extension of choriocapillaris inflammatory non-perfusion. The vasculitis of the choriocapillaris goes from limited and reversible when distal endcapillary vessels are involved such as in Multiple Evanescent White Dot Syndrome (MEWDS) to more severe involvement in Acute Posterior Multifocal Placoid Pigment Epitheliopathy (APMPPE), Multifocal Choroiditis (MFC) or Serpiginous Choroiditis (SC) with more pronounced non-perfusion causing scars if not treated diligently. On the other side, stromal choroidal vasculitis is characterised by leaking hyperfluorescent vessels that appear fuzzy and at the origin of late diffuse choroidal hyperfluorescence. Conclusion Choroidal vasculitis is present in almost all patients with inflammatory choroidal involvement, occlusive in case of choriocapillaritis and leaky in stromal choroiditis causing vessel hyperfluorescence, fuzziness of the choroidal vessels and late diffuse stromal hyperfluorescence on ICGA. Systemic vasculitis entities produce occlusive vasculitis of large choroidal vessels.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12348-024-00442-w
spellingShingle Ioannis Papasavvas
William R. Tucker
Alessandro Mantovani
Lorenzo Fabozzi
Carl P. Herbort
Choroidal vasculitis as a biomarker of inflammation of the choroid. Indocyanine Green Angiography (ICGA) spearheading for diagnosis and follow-up, an imaging tutorial
Journal of Ophthalmic Inflammation and Infection
title Choroidal vasculitis as a biomarker of inflammation of the choroid. Indocyanine Green Angiography (ICGA) spearheading for diagnosis and follow-up, an imaging tutorial
title_full Choroidal vasculitis as a biomarker of inflammation of the choroid. Indocyanine Green Angiography (ICGA) spearheading for diagnosis and follow-up, an imaging tutorial
title_fullStr Choroidal vasculitis as a biomarker of inflammation of the choroid. Indocyanine Green Angiography (ICGA) spearheading for diagnosis and follow-up, an imaging tutorial
title_full_unstemmed Choroidal vasculitis as a biomarker of inflammation of the choroid. Indocyanine Green Angiography (ICGA) spearheading for diagnosis and follow-up, an imaging tutorial
title_short Choroidal vasculitis as a biomarker of inflammation of the choroid. Indocyanine Green Angiography (ICGA) spearheading for diagnosis and follow-up, an imaging tutorial
title_sort choroidal vasculitis as a biomarker of inflammation of the choroid indocyanine green angiography icga spearheading for diagnosis and follow up an imaging tutorial
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12348-024-00442-w
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