Sensitivity and Specificity of OCT Angiography to Detect Choroidal Neovascularization

• Published in: Ophthalmology retina Vol. 1; no. 4; p. 294
• Main Authors: Faridi, Ambar, Jia, Yali, Gao, Simon S, Huang, David, Bhavsar, Kavita V, Wilson, David J, Sill, Andrew, Flaxel, Christina J, Hwang, Thomas S, Lauer, Andreas K, Bailey, Steven T
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.07.2017
• ISSN: 2468-7219
• DOI: 10.1016/j.oret.2017.02.007

To determine the sensitivity and specificity of optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) in the detection of choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Prospective case series. Prospective series of seventy-two eyes were studied, which included eyes with treatment-naive CNV due to AMD, non-neovascular AMD, and normal controls. All eyes underwent OCTA with a spectral domain (SD) OCT (Optovue, Inc.). The 3D angiogram was segmented into separate views including the inner retinal angiogram, outer retinal angiogram, and choriocapillaris angiogram. Detection of abnormal flow in the outer retina served as candidate CNV with OCTA. Masked graders reviewed structural OCT alone, OCTA alone, and OCTA combined with cross-sectional OCTA for the presence of CNV. The sensitivity and specificity of CNV detection compared to the gold standard of fluorescein angiography (FA) and OCT was determined for structural SD-OCT alone, OCTA alone, and with OCTA combined with cross-sectional OCTA. Of 32 eyes with CNV, both graders identified 26 true positives with OCTA alone, resulting in a sensitivity of 81.3%. Four of the 6 false negatives had large subretinal hemorrhage (SRH) and sensitivity improved to 94% for both graders if eyes with SRH were excluded. The addition of cross-sectional OCTA along with OCTA improved the sensitivity to 100% for both graders. Structural OCT alone also had a sensitivity of 100%. The specificity of OCTA alone was 92.5% for grader A and 97.5% for grader B. The specificity of structural OCT alone was 97.5% for grader A and 85% for grader B. Cross-sectional OCTA combined with OCTA had a specificity of 97.5% for grader A and 100% for grader B. Sensitivity and specificity for CNV detection with OCTA combined with cross-sectional OCTA approaches that of the gold standard of FA with OCT, and it is better than OCTA alone. Structural OCT alone has excellent sensitivity for CNV detection. False positives from structural OCT can be mitigated with the addition of flow information with OCTA.