Extramacular lesions in eyes with polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy Researchers describe choroidal vascular abnormalities outside the macula in patients with polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV).

Polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) involves branching vascular networks external to the choriocapillaris and multiple, terminal reddish orange, aneurysmal or polypoidal lesions. Indocyanine green angiography is useful for identifing these abnormalities and distinguishing them from age-related macular degeneration. (AMD) The pathogenesis of PCV remains unclear. The choroidal lesions of PCV have been descrided to occur in various locations: the peripapillary area, macula, temoral vascular arcade, and midperiphery.

The scientists performed a retrospective analysis of 29 eyes presenting with both extramacular and macular PCV lesions by indocyanine green angiography. The patients were classified according to the location of the extramacular lesions and clinical manifestations.

PCV locations were identified as peripapillary (32.1%), superior (10.7%) or inferior (17.9%) to the optic disc, superior (14.3%) or inferior (7.1%) temporal arcade, temporal to the macula (10.7%), and nasal to the optic disc (7.1%). Clinical manifestations were identified as polyp (10.7%), branching vascular networks (42.9%), pigment epithelial detachment (PED) (17.9%), polyp and branching vascular networks (7.1%), polyp and PED (14.3%), and all three (7.1%).

The researchers conclude that PCV is associated with extramacular choroidal lesions with various clinical manifestations indipendent of the macular lesions.

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Jpn J Ophthalmol. 2010 Jan;54(1):48-54.