Paying attention to the clinical application and image interpretation in optical coherence tomography angiography

Abstract

Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) is a new diagnostic technique in recent years based on the OCT, and it is one of the fastest developing imaging examinations in ophthalmology.At present, the primary diagnostic methods of retinal neovascular diseases are fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA) and indocyanine green angiography (ICGA), which can dynamically exhibit the abnormal vessels and provide visible abnormal vascular morphology and useful diagnostic information.However, FFA and ICGA are invasive ways, and these methods are unable to perform layer analysis.Compared with FFA and ICGA, in addition to the features of non-invasive, high-speed scanning and high-resolution, OCTA also shows the ability to reveal blood flow non-invasively.OCTA is not affected by vascular leakage or retinal hemorrhage, and it can give the three dimensionally measuring image and achieve quantitative and enface analysis of lesion.The utility of OCTA technique enriches and accelerates the imaging diagnosis, treatment and exploration of the ocular diseases.However, the measuring procedure and accurate interpretation of OCTA depends on the correct understanding for OCTA principle and tissue structure.Therefore, it is essential for an ophthalmologist to fully study and know its principles and clinical application. Key words: Tomography, optical coherence; Retinal diseases/diagnosis; Retinal vessels/pathology; Fluorescein angiography; Optical coherence tomography angiography