Quantitative analysis of choroidal vascular structures and anatomical changes in pachychoroid spectrum diseases using ultra-widefield SS-OCTA

Abstract This study used ultra-widefield swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography (UWF SS-OCTA) to analyze and compare choroidal blood flow and anatomical changes in eyes affected by central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC), pachychoroid neovasculopathy (PNV), and uncomplicated pachychoro...

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Main Authors: Bei Xiao, Yanping Song, Ming Yan, Ya Ye, Zhen Huang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-01-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-82745-5
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author Bei Xiao
Yanping Song
Ming Yan
Ya Ye
Zhen Huang
author_facet Bei Xiao
Yanping Song
Ming Yan
Ya Ye
Zhen Huang
author_sort Bei Xiao
collection DOAJ
description Abstract This study used ultra-widefield swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography (UWF SS-OCTA) to analyze and compare choroidal blood flow and anatomical changes in eyes affected by central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC), pachychoroid neovasculopathy (PNV), and uncomplicated pachychoroid (UCP). The findings revealed distribution patterns of vortex veins across the three patient groups and provided initial findings insights into the origin of choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in PNV. A total of 44 patients with CSC, 38 with PNV, and 46 with UCP were included in the analysis. Three-dimensional data were obtained from scans measuring 20 mm vertically by 24 mm horizontally with a scan depth of 6 mm, covering nine subfields. The results showed that CSC groups exhibited significantly higher choroidal vessel volume per unit area (mCVV/a), choroidal vascularity index (CVI), and choroidal thickness (CT) compared to the PNV and UCP groups. While the PNV and UCP groups shared similar choroidal vascular characteristics, the PNV group exhibited slightly higher choroidal vessel volume and notably the lowest foveal choriocapillaris density. These findings suggest that PNV and CSC may represent a continuous pathological spectrum, while UCP might be considered a precursor to CSC or a stage following its resolution. Additionally, further analysis indicated that CNV in PNV could be attributed to choriocapillaris occlusion and ischemia resulting from mechanical compression by hypertrophic choroidal vessels. These findings enhance our understanding of choroidal structure and hemodynamics within pachychoroid spectrum diseases (PSD), shedding light on shared etiological mechanisms and advancing the characterization of their pathophysiology.
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spelling doaj-art-a554dd2337f446ab827b7b4ea04e2fb82025-01-05T12:18:04ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-01-0115111110.1038/s41598-024-82745-5Quantitative analysis of choroidal vascular structures and anatomical changes in pachychoroid spectrum diseases using ultra-widefield SS-OCTABei Xiao0Yanping Song1Ming Yan2Ya Ye3Zhen Huang4The First School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical UniversityThe First School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical UniversityThe Department of Ophthalmology, General Hospital of Central Theater CommandThe Department of Ophthalmology, General Hospital of Central Theater CommandThe Department of Ophthalmology, General Hospital of Central Theater CommandAbstract This study used ultra-widefield swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography (UWF SS-OCTA) to analyze and compare choroidal blood flow and anatomical changes in eyes affected by central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC), pachychoroid neovasculopathy (PNV), and uncomplicated pachychoroid (UCP). The findings revealed distribution patterns of vortex veins across the three patient groups and provided initial findings insights into the origin of choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in PNV. A total of 44 patients with CSC, 38 with PNV, and 46 with UCP were included in the analysis. Three-dimensional data were obtained from scans measuring 20 mm vertically by 24 mm horizontally with a scan depth of 6 mm, covering nine subfields. The results showed that CSC groups exhibited significantly higher choroidal vessel volume per unit area (mCVV/a), choroidal vascularity index (CVI), and choroidal thickness (CT) compared to the PNV and UCP groups. While the PNV and UCP groups shared similar choroidal vascular characteristics, the PNV group exhibited slightly higher choroidal vessel volume and notably the lowest foveal choriocapillaris density. These findings suggest that PNV and CSC may represent a continuous pathological spectrum, while UCP might be considered a precursor to CSC or a stage following its resolution. Additionally, further analysis indicated that CNV in PNV could be attributed to choriocapillaris occlusion and ischemia resulting from mechanical compression by hypertrophic choroidal vessels. These findings enhance our understanding of choroidal structure and hemodynamics within pachychoroid spectrum diseases (PSD), shedding light on shared etiological mechanisms and advancing the characterization of their pathophysiology.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-82745-5Pachychoroid spectrum diseases (PSD)ChoroidUltra-widefield swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography (UWF SS-OCTA)Vortex veinsChoroidal neovascularization
spellingShingle Bei Xiao
Yanping Song
Ming Yan
Ya Ye
Zhen Huang
Quantitative analysis of choroidal vascular structures and anatomical changes in pachychoroid spectrum diseases using ultra-widefield SS-OCTA
Scientific Reports
Pachychoroid spectrum diseases (PSD)
Choroid
Ultra-widefield swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography (UWF SS-OCTA)
Vortex veins
Choroidal neovascularization
title Quantitative analysis of choroidal vascular structures and anatomical changes in pachychoroid spectrum diseases using ultra-widefield SS-OCTA
title_full Quantitative analysis of choroidal vascular structures and anatomical changes in pachychoroid spectrum diseases using ultra-widefield SS-OCTA
title_fullStr Quantitative analysis of choroidal vascular structures and anatomical changes in pachychoroid spectrum diseases using ultra-widefield SS-OCTA
title_full_unstemmed Quantitative analysis of choroidal vascular structures and anatomical changes in pachychoroid spectrum diseases using ultra-widefield SS-OCTA
title_short Quantitative analysis of choroidal vascular structures and anatomical changes in pachychoroid spectrum diseases using ultra-widefield SS-OCTA
title_sort quantitative analysis of choroidal vascular structures and anatomical changes in pachychoroid spectrum diseases using ultra widefield ss octa
topic Pachychoroid spectrum diseases (PSD)
Choroid
Ultra-widefield swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography (UWF SS-OCTA)
Vortex veins
Choroidal neovascularization
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-82745-5
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