Indocyanine green angiographic features in tuberculous chorioretinitis

PURPOSE: To determine choroidal involvement in presumed tuberculous posteri or uveitis by examining indocyanine green angiographic features. METHODS: Indocyanine green angiography was performed according to a standar d uveitis angiographic protocol in eight consecutive patients (15 exes) wit h presumed posterior tuberculous uveitis, RESULTS: In 100% of the 15 examined eyes, indocyanine green angiography dis closed choroidal lesions that were subclinical, not detected by fundus exam ination or fluorescein angiography, in six (40%) of 15 eyes, Findings were classified into four main angiographic signs: (1) irregularly distributed, hypofluorescent areas in the early and intermediate phases of angiography t hat tither bo came isofluorescent (type 1 hypofluorescence) or remained hyp ofluorescent (type 2 hypofluorescence) in the late phase; (2) numerous, sma ll, focal, hyperfluorescent spots; (3) choroidal vessels that appeared fuzz y in the intermediate phase because of leakage, leading in the late phase t o (4) diffuse choroidal hyperfluorescence. Type 1 hypofluorescent lesions, fuzzy choroidal vessels, and diffuse choroidal hyperfluorescence tended to regress after the initiation of antituberculous and corticosteroid treatmen t, Focal hyperfluorescence tended to he associated with longstanding diseas e. CONCLUSIONS: Indocyanine green angiography was useful in assessing and quan tifying the as yet unknown extent of choroidal involvement in tuberculous p osterior uveitis, Its characteristic appearance may be a valuable contribut ion to the diagnosis and monitoring of treatment response. (C) 1999 by Else vier Science Inc. All rights reserved.