Evidence and Consensus-Based Imaging Guidelines in Serpiginous Choroiditis—Multimodal Imaging in Uveitis (MUV) Task Force Report 4

Purpose

To develop imaging and consensus-based guidelines for the application of multimodal imaging in serpiginous choroiditis (SC).

Design

Consensus agreement guided by literature search, and an expert committee using a nominal group technique.

Methods

An expert committee gathered cases of noninfectious SC based on predefined informatics-driven inclusion criteria. These criteria focused primarily on high-quality imaging, including color fundus photographs (CFP), optical coherence tomography (OCT), fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA), indocyanine green angiography, and OCT angiography (OCTA). A structured nominal group technique was applied to achieve consensus-based recommendations on imaging use for specific disease characteristics, biomarkers of activity, and complications. These recommendations were further voted upon by members of the full task force.

Results

CFP and fundus autofluorescence are key imaging modalities for the diagnosis of SC. SC is characterized by amoeboid/serpentine choroiditis lesions on CFP, with hypo-autofluorescence in older inactive lesions and hyper-autofluorescence along the broad active edges. Fundus autofluorescence is the most important tool for assessing disease activity. Indocyanine green angiography findings, particularly at the leading active edge, and OCT further aid in disease characterization. Early hypofluorescence of the active edge with uniform hyperfluorescent staining in the late phase of FFA are key features that help differentiate SC from other placoid chorioretinopathies. FFA, OCT, and OCTA are useful in identifying underlying choroidal neovascularization, with OCTA being an important modality.

Conclusions

Multimodal Imaging in Uveitis imaging criteria for SC extend the Standardization of Uveitis Nomenclature classification, by providing guidelines for the use of multimodal imaging. These criteria also provide a framework for evaluation of disease activity and complications.