The frequency of focal choroidal excavation detected by optical coherence tomography

Abstract

AIM: To determine the frequency and the causes of focal choroidal excavation (FCE) detected by spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SDOCT), and to comment on its clinical importance.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study, 632 eyes of the patients with untreated wet age-related macular degeneration (w-AMD, n=368), central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR, n=214), Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada Disease (VKHD, n=3), adult vitelliform macular dystrophy (AVMD, n=32), Best vitelliform macular dystrophy (BVMD, n=2) and other macular dystrophies and specific maculopathies (n=13) were retrospectively reviewed for the presence of the FCE. Additionally, 228 unaffected fellow eyes without obvious macular pathology of the cases with unilateral involvement were also evaluated as control cases in this study. The medical records of ten patients with FCEs detected by SDOCT were reviewed. The causes, frequency, associated diseases, types, size and shape, associated SDOCT pathologies, SDOCT findings of the FCEs in ten cases were evaluated and commented on.

RESULTS: The FCE was detected in ten eyes of ten cases. Of the patients with FCE, 4 (40%) were women and 6 (60%) were men. The ages of patients were ranged between 63 to 76 years (median 66.1 years). Bilateral FCE was not detected.  The FCE was detected in one eye with w-AMD (1/368 patients), in two eyes with active CSCR (2/214), in one with AVMD (1/32 patients) and in 5 eyes of the control (idiopathic FCE; 5/228).

CONCLUSIONS: FCE may be detected in various macular chorioretinal diseases. However, it should be considered that FCE might be idiopathic.