En-Face Optical Coherence Tomography of Acute Syphilitic Posterior Placoid Chorioretinopathy

ABSTRACT

Purpose: To report a unique case series of acute syphilitic posterior placoid chorioretinopathy (ASPPC) correlating en-face optical coherence tomography (OCT) with standard imaging modalities.

Methods: In this retrospective case series, multimodal imaging was performed in three ASPPC patients at the time of disease presentation.

Results: Clinical and laboratory findings were consistent with the diagnosis of ASPPC. In all the study patients, multiple hyperreflective dot-like lesions distributed in the macular area and observed with en-face OCT at the level of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) corresponded to the nodular RPE elevations on cross-sectional OCT and to the hyperautofluorescent spots on fundus autofluorescence. In addition, the cross-sectional OCT scans showed disorganization of the outer retinal bands and punctate choroidal hyperreflectivity.

Conclusion: By combining en-face OCT with multimodal imaging analysis, we propose that a primary inflammation at the level of the choroid may be the pathogenic mechanism for the occurrence of outer retinal band abnormalities.

Keywords:

• Acute syphilitic posterior placoid chorioretinitis
• cross-sectional optical coherence tomography
• en-face optical coherence tomography
• outer retinal abnormalities
• syphilis

Declaration of Interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the article.