HISTOPATHOLOGICAL AND FLUORESCEIN ANGIOGR APHIC CORRELATION OF CHOROIDAL NEOVASCULARIZATION (CNV) ASSOCIATED WITH ARMD

Background: Recent studies have raised confusion about the fluorescein angiographical and histopathological correlation of CNV. Material and methods: The preoperative fluorescein angiograms of four patients wit h subfoveal CNV due to ARMD extracted by pars plana vitrectomy were cl assified as weller ill-defined CNV and were correlated to the histopat hologically (in serial sections) verrified CNV-location (subneuroretin al (= type II according to Gass) versus sub-RPE (type I according to G ass)). Results: The locations of all four CNV could be classified by h istopathological landmarks as there were RPE, BLD/drusen, and inner Br uchs membrane. Angiographically well-defined membranes were type II me mbranes according to Gass, whereas the ill-defined membrane represente d type I. The CNV with well-and ill-defined borders consisted of type II and type I parts according to Gass. Conclusion: We find subneuroret inal locations of the well-defined CNV examined (type II membranes acc ording to Gass). Correspondingly, ill-defined CNV or ill-defined parts of a CNV seem to be beneath the RPE (type I). The correlation of fluo rescein angiography and histopathology should be studied in greater nu mbers of well-and ill-defined CNV.