Expanded Spectrum of Optical Coherence Tomography Findings in Patients with Ocular Toxoplasmosis

A new perspective in the treatment follow-up of toxoplasma retinochoroiditis: Infiltrate thickness measurement

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to describe the spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) findings of active lesions in toxoplasma retinochoroiditis cases and to examine the changes in retinochoroidal infiltrate thickness after treatment.

METHODS

A total of 21 newly diagnosed patients with ocular toxoplasmosis were included in this prospective study. A complete ophthalmologic examination and SD-OCT were performed at the first visit. The patients were followed up weekly, and the SD-OCT images were taken over the lesion at each visit for 6 weeks. The characteristics of the active retinochoroiditis focus at the first visit were determined, and the infiltrate thicknesses at all visits were analyzed.

RESULTS

A statistically significant BCVA difference was observed at the first visit and at the last visit 6 weeks later (p < 0.01). The first week after treatment showed a significant decrease in infiltrate thickness (113.904 ± 86.001 µm). In the following weeks, this decrease continued more softly. The thickness change at 6 weeks was significantly reduced (16.095 ± 14.784 µm) compared with the previous ones. Weekly infitrate thickness changes were compared among themselves; a statistically significant difference was found between the 1st and 2nd weeks and the 5th and 6th weeks (p = 0.035 and p = 0.007, respectively). Detached posterior vitreous in 71% (15/21) and increased posterior vitreous thickness in 76% (16/21) of active lesion were detected. All patients had 100% (21/21) increased retinal reflectivity and disorganized retinal layers, and choroidal hypo-reflectivity was observed in 86% (18/21).

CONCLUSION

SD-OCT is a useful imaging modality in the diagnosis and follow-up of ocular toxoplasmosis cases. Serial thickness measurements of toxoplasma retinochoroiditis lesions may help confirm our diagnosis and determine the need for treatment.

Stepwise approach for fundus imaging in the diagnosis and management of posterior uveitis

An array of retinochoroid imaging modalities aid in comprehensive evaluation of the immunopathological changes in the retina and choroid, forming the core component for the diagnosis and management of inflammatory disorders such as uveitis. The recent technological breakthroughs have led to the development of imaging platforms that can evaluate the layers of retina and choroid and the structural and functional alteration in these tissues. Ophthalmologists heavily rely on imaging modalities such as dye-based angiographies (fluorescein angiography and indocyanine green angiography), optical coherence tomography, fundus autofluorescence, as well as dye-less angiography such as optical coherence tomography angiograph,y for establishing a precise diagnosis and understanding the pathophysiology of the diseases. Furthermore, these tools are now being deployed with a 'multimodal' approach for swift and accurate diagnosis. In this comprehensive review, we outline the imaging platforms used for evaluation of posterior uveitis and discuss the organized, algorithmic approach for the assessment of the disorders. Additionally, we provide an insight into disease-specific characteristic pathological changes and the established strategies to rule out disorders with overlapping features on imaging.