OCT angiography findings in posterior persistent fetal vasculature

Abstract

Aims/Purpose: To report optical coherence tomography angiography findings in a patient presenting unilateral posterior persistent fetal vasculature (PVF).Methods: We report the case of a 19‐year‐old female patient with longstanding visual impairment of the left eye (LE). Patient was assessed with multimodal imaging including color fundus photography, swept source optical coherence tomography (SS‐OCT) and SS‐OCT angiography (SS‐OCTA) of the macula and the optic disc.Results: The patient had a history of unilateral visual impairment of unknown aetiology and consulted for a routine examination. Best corrected visual acuity was 10/10 in the right eye (RE) and limited to counting fingers in the LE. Ophthalmological examination of the LE revealed a mild exophoria, a quiet anterior segment, a vestigial capsular bag and an inferonasal whitish spot at the posterior lens capsule corresponding to Mittendorf's dot. Dilated fundus examination of the LE showed a lack of foveal reflex, retinal vessel contraction associated to the presence of a fibrovascular stalk extending from the OD to the crystalline lens via the vitreous humour, corresponding to fibrovascular contraction of the persistent and hyperplastic Cloquet's canal. No associated retinal detachment was noted. The clinical diagnosis of posterior PVF was confirmed. Macular SS‐OCT revealed retinal thinning with absence of foveal pit. Optic disc SS‐OCT highlighted a hyporeflective tubular structure overlying a Bergmeister'papilla. Cross‐sectional SS‐OCTA detected a flow signal at the level of Bergmeister's papilla, but no confirmed flow signal was identified at the level of the fibrovascular stalk.Conclusions: PVF is a rare condition characterized by fetal remnant from developmental vascular system defects, clinically recognized in its three forms (anterior, posterior and combined). OCT‐angiography is a useful non‐invasive tool to confirm of persistent hyaloid artery patency and assess risk of vascular complications. Contraction of the fibrovascular mass is prone to tractional retinal detachment and repeated episodes of intravitreal or intracapsular haemorrhage. Monitoring is therefore recommended even in adulthood.