Modern diagnostic methods used in macular telangiectasia

Abstract

PurposePresenting an assessment of new, various diagnostic methods used in patients with macular telangiectasia – an idiopathic, uncommon disorder characterized bytelangiectatic vessels in the juxtafoveolar region.MethodsThe study included 5 patients with macular telangiectasia treated in theDepartment of Ophthalmology and Ocular Oncology, Jagiellonian University, CollegiumMedicum in Cracow. The patients were enrolled in an observational study and evaluatedusing various diagnostic and treatment methods. The examination included BCVA, funduscolor photo, fundus autofluorescence, fluorescein angiography, DRI OCT‐1 AtlantisTOPCON and OCT‐angiography (AngioVue). Retinal layers, the region bounded by the outer retina, Bruch's membrane, choriocapillaris, and the remaining choroidal vasculature were assessed.ResultsIn all 5 patients with macular telangiectasia, the telangiectatic vessels wereidentified in fluorescein angiography, showing leakage in late phase. DRI OCT‐1 allows to abetter assessment of the neurosensory retina and demonstrate small foveal cystoid cavitieswith destruction of inner and outer layers, which is typical of this disease. This isvery useful in differentation with choroidal neovascularization in the wet type of AMD orcystoid macular oedema and helps to determin the severity of the disease. In all the patients OCT‐angiography (AngioVue) enabled a visualization of very small retina vessels, but not a diagnosis of the neovascularization and leakage.ConclusionsThe results of our observation indicate that fluorescein angiography and DRIOCT‐1 seem to be the most useful diagnostic methods in macular telangiectasia, but OCT‐angiography can provide an alternative assessment method especially in patients with contraindications for fluorescein angiography. Further studies comprising a wider group of patients are necessary.