Focal Choroidal Excavation: Epidemiology, Clinical Characteristics and Multimodal Imaging Findings

Background: Focal choroidal excavation (FCE) is one of the pachychoroid spectrum diseases. It may be an isolated lesion or associated with other ophthalmological disorders. The aim of the study was to present the epidemiology, clinical features and multimodal imaging findings in FCE. Methods: This i...

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Main Authors: Paulina Szabelska, Justyna Mędrzycka, Joanna Brydak-Godowska, Radosław Różycki, Joanna Gołębiewska
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2023-02-01
Series:Diagnostics
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4418/13/4/602
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author Paulina Szabelska
Justyna Mędrzycka
Joanna Brydak-Godowska
Radosław Różycki
Joanna Gołębiewska
author_facet Paulina Szabelska
Justyna Mędrzycka
Joanna Brydak-Godowska
Radosław Różycki
Joanna Gołębiewska
author_sort Paulina Szabelska
collection DOAJ
description Background: Focal choroidal excavation (FCE) is one of the pachychoroid spectrum diseases. It may be an isolated lesion or associated with other ophthalmological disorders. The aim of the study was to present the epidemiology, clinical features and multimodal imaging findings in FCE. Methods: This is a case series of 14 consecutive patients with a diagnosis of FCE, confirmed by multimodal imaging, from a review of the 5076 optical coherence tomography (OCT) scans in 2538 patients. Choroidal thickness (CT) was measured under the fovea and in the area of maximum choroidal thickening in the affected eye and under the fovea in the fellow eye. Results: The mean age of the subjects was 40 ± 13.58 years. FCE occurred unilaterally and was an isolated lesion in all cases. The fellow eye did not show any macular pathology in all patients. Twelve eyes presented conforming FCEs and two non–conforming FCEs. In 79% of cases, FCE was subfoveal. The mean maximum CT was 390 μm in the affected eye with the presence of pachyvessels. A total of 13 patients were asymptomatic, while one patient reported a visual disturbance due to neovascularization secondary to FCE. Of all the multimodal imaging techniques, optical coherence tomography (OCT) provided the most important data in the diagnosis of FCE. Conclusions: Our study confirmed that FCE is a rare ocular condition, but it may be more common in Caucasian population than previously known. Multimodal imaging methods, mainly OCT, are crucial in FCE diagnostics. Further studies are needed to expand the available knowledge about its etiology and clinical course.
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spelling doaj.art-0797ecf483374e19ac8e2d429595a1252023-11-16T20:00:15ZengMDPI AGDiagnostics2075-44182023-02-0113460210.3390/diagnostics13040602Focal Choroidal Excavation: Epidemiology, Clinical Characteristics and Multimodal Imaging FindingsPaulina Szabelska0Justyna Mędrzycka1Joanna Brydak-Godowska2Radosław Różycki3Joanna Gołębiewska4Department of Ophthalmology, Military Institute of Aviation Medicine, 01-755 Warsaw, PolandDepartment of Ophthalmology, Military Institute of Aviation Medicine, 01-755 Warsaw, PolandDepartment of Ophthalmology, Infant Jesus Clinical Hospital, University Clinical Center, Medical University of Warsaw, 02-091 Warsaw, PolandDepartment of Ophthalmology, Military Institute of Aviation Medicine, 01-755 Warsaw, PolandDepartment of Ophthalmology, Military Institute of Aviation Medicine, 01-755 Warsaw, PolandBackground: Focal choroidal excavation (FCE) is one of the pachychoroid spectrum diseases. It may be an isolated lesion or associated with other ophthalmological disorders. The aim of the study was to present the epidemiology, clinical features and multimodal imaging findings in FCE. Methods: This is a case series of 14 consecutive patients with a diagnosis of FCE, confirmed by multimodal imaging, from a review of the 5076 optical coherence tomography (OCT) scans in 2538 patients. Choroidal thickness (CT) was measured under the fovea and in the area of maximum choroidal thickening in the affected eye and under the fovea in the fellow eye. Results: The mean age of the subjects was 40 ± 13.58 years. FCE occurred unilaterally and was an isolated lesion in all cases. The fellow eye did not show any macular pathology in all patients. Twelve eyes presented conforming FCEs and two non–conforming FCEs. In 79% of cases, FCE was subfoveal. The mean maximum CT was 390 μm in the affected eye with the presence of pachyvessels. A total of 13 patients were asymptomatic, while one patient reported a visual disturbance due to neovascularization secondary to FCE. Of all the multimodal imaging techniques, optical coherence tomography (OCT) provided the most important data in the diagnosis of FCE. Conclusions: Our study confirmed that FCE is a rare ocular condition, but it may be more common in Caucasian population than previously known. Multimodal imaging methods, mainly OCT, are crucial in FCE diagnostics. Further studies are needed to expand the available knowledge about its etiology and clinical course.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4418/13/4/602focal choroidal excavation (FCE)pachychoroidpachychoroid spectrum diseasesoptical coherence tomography (OCT)OCT Angiography (OCTA)
spellingShingle Paulina Szabelska
Justyna Mędrzycka
Joanna Brydak-Godowska
Radosław Różycki
Joanna Gołębiewska
Focal Choroidal Excavation: Epidemiology, Clinical Characteristics and Multimodal Imaging Findings
Diagnostics
focal choroidal excavation (FCE)
pachychoroid
pachychoroid spectrum diseases
optical coherence tomography (OCT)
OCT Angiography (OCTA)
title Focal Choroidal Excavation: Epidemiology, Clinical Characteristics and Multimodal Imaging Findings
title_full Focal Choroidal Excavation: Epidemiology, Clinical Characteristics and Multimodal Imaging Findings
title_fullStr Focal Choroidal Excavation: Epidemiology, Clinical Characteristics and Multimodal Imaging Findings
title_full_unstemmed Focal Choroidal Excavation: Epidemiology, Clinical Characteristics and Multimodal Imaging Findings
title_short Focal Choroidal Excavation: Epidemiology, Clinical Characteristics and Multimodal Imaging Findings
title_sort focal choroidal excavation epidemiology clinical characteristics and multimodal imaging findings
topic focal choroidal excavation (FCE)
pachychoroid
pachychoroid spectrum diseases
optical coherence tomography (OCT)
OCT Angiography (OCTA)
url https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4418/13/4/602
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AT justynamedrzycka focalchoroidalexcavationepidemiologyclinicalcharacteristicsandmultimodalimagingfindings
AT joannabrydakgodowska focalchoroidalexcavationepidemiologyclinicalcharacteristicsandmultimodalimagingfindings
AT radosławrozycki focalchoroidalexcavationepidemiologyclinicalcharacteristicsandmultimodalimagingfindings
AT joannagołebiewska focalchoroidalexcavationepidemiologyclinicalcharacteristicsandmultimodalimagingfindings