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A pilot study to image the vascular network of small melanocytic choroidal tumors with speckle noise-free 1050-nm swept source optical coherence tomography (OCT choroidal angiography)

  • Oncology
  • Published:
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Abstract

Purpose

To visualize and measure the vascular network of melanocytic choroidal tumors with speckle noise-free swept source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT choroidal angiography).

Methods

Melanocytic choroidal tumors from 24 eyes were imaged with 1050-nm optical coherence tomography (Topcon DRI OCT-1 Atlantis). A semi-automated algorithm was developed to remove speckle noise and to extract and measure the volume of the choroidal vessels from the obtained OCT data.

Results

In all cases, analysis of the choroidal vessels could be performed with SS-OCT without the need for pupillary dilation. The proposed method allows speckle noise-free, structure-guided visualization and measurement of the larger choroidal vessels in three dimensions. The obtained data suggest that speckle noise-free OCT may be more effective at identifying choroidal structures than traditional OCT methods. The measured volume of the extracted choroidal vessels of Haller’s layer and Sattler’s layer in the examined tumorous eyes was on average 0.982463955 mm3 /982463956 μm3 (range of 0.209764406 mm3 /209764405.9 μm3to 1.78105544 mm3 /1781055440 μm3). Full thickness obstruction of the choroidal vasculature by the tumor was found in 18 cases (72 %). In seven cases (18 %), choroidal vessel architecture did not show pronounced morphological abnormalities (18 %).

Conclusion

Speckle noise-free OCT may serve as a new illustrative imaging technology and enhance visualization of the choroidal vessels without the need for dye injection. OCT can be used to identify and evaluate the choroidal vessels of melanocytic choroidal tumors, and may represent a potentially useful tool for imaging and monitoring of choroidal nevi and melanoma.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ophthalmology, OCTlab, University of Basel, Mittlere Strasse 91, CH-4056, Basel, Switzerland

    Peter Maloca, Cyrill Gyger & Pascal W. Hasler

Authors
  1. Peter Maloca
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  2. Cyrill Gyger
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  3. Pascal W. Hasler
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Peter Maloca.

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Funding

No funding was received for this research.

Conflict of interest

Peter Maloca and Cyrill Gyger are owners of intellectual property on speckle noise analysis technology discussed in this manuscript. Peter Maloca and Pascal Hasler are consultants and have received lecture fees from Mediconsult/Topcon, and Optos, and grant support from Mediconsult/Topcon. The funding organizations had no role in the design or conduct of the current study. All authors certify that, except as indicated above, they have NO affiliations with or involvement in any organization or entity with any financial interest (such as honoraria; educational grants; participation in speakers’ bureaus; membership, employment, consultancies, stock ownership, or other equity interest; and expert testimony or patent-licensing arrangements), or non-financial interest (such as personal or professional relationships, affiliations, knowledge or beliefs) in the subject matter or materials discussed in this manuscript.

Ethical approval

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki Declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards. Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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Maloca, P., Gyger, C. & Hasler, P.W. A pilot study to image the vascular network of small melanocytic choroidal tumors with speckle noise-free 1050-nm swept source optical coherence tomography (OCT choroidal angiography). Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 254, 1201–1210 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00417-015-3259-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00417-015-3259-9

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