Swept source optical coherence tomography imaging of a series of choroidal tumours

Abstract

Objective: This pilot study aimed to describe the swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT) features of a series of choroidal tumours.

Design: This was an observational case series.

Participants: Patients in our ocular oncology unit were recruited: 32 eyes belonging to 31 patients.

Methods: All of the patients underwent fundus photography, ultrasonography (US), fundus autofluorescence (FAF), and SS-OCT. The main assessed characteristics were maximal tumour diameter and thickness, inner structure, and disturbances in the choroidal layers, sclera, retinal pigment epithelium, and retina.

Results: The tumours examined consisted of 16 nevi, 6 lesions with risk factors for growth, 4 melanomas, 4 hemangiomas, and 2 choroidal metastases. SS-OCT provided an accurate measurement of the tumour's maximum diameter in every case. Choroidal nevi displayed a compact, regular structure with a preserved choriocapillaris. Choroidal melanomas showed a more irregular inner structure, with an ablated choriocapillaris. Choroidal hemangiomas had a regular spongelike pattern. Choroidal metastases had an irregular inner structure organized in clumps and an ablated outer retina. In most of the pigmented tumours, the sclerochoroidal interface was not identifiable by SS-OCT. The presence of lipofuscin, detected by funduscopy and FAF, was also correlated with the SS-OCT findings.

Conclusions: SS-OCT provided a view of the inner structures of a series of choroidal tumours and assessed their associated structural anomalies, as well as obtained measurements of the diameter and thickness in most cases.