Evidence and Consensus-based Imaging Guidelines in Birdshot Chorioretinopathy: Multimodal Imaging in Uveitis (MUV) Taskforce Report 8

Purpose

To develop consensus-based imaging guidelines for diagnosing and monitoring birdshot chorioretinopathy (BSCR).

Design

Consensus-based approach guided by literature and an expert committee using a nominal group technique (NGT).

Methods

An expert committee of 5 international uveitis specialists reviewed 15 well-documented representative BSCR cases with comprehensive imaging data. Cases with active and inactive disease were included. Imaging, including color fundus photography (CFP), fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA), indocyanine green angiography (ICGA), optical coherence tomography (OCT), fundus autofluorescence (FAF), and OCT angiography (OCTA) were reviewed. Using a structured NGT approach, consensus-based recommendations were developed for specific disease characteristics, biomarkers of activity, and complications. The recommendations were voted upon by members of the full task force.

Results

For the diagnosis of BSCR, CFP, FFA, and ICGA were identified as the key imaging modalities. ICGA was identified as a key imaging modality for assessing the presence of choroidal lesions. FFA was deemed crucial for monitoring retinal vascular leakage and assessing the treatment response. OCT, while not essential for diagnosis, was valuable for detecting complications such as cystoid macular edema and retinal thinning. The committee did not reach a consensus on the role of FAF and OCTA for the diagnosis or monitoring of BSCR.

Conclusions

The MUV consensus-based imaging guidelines for BSCR expand the Standardization of Uveitis Nomenclature (SUN) classification criteria by reaffirming the critical role of ICGA and providing a standardized guidelines for using other imaging modalities in the diagnosis and monitoring of BSCR. These guidelines are expected to facilitate monitoring of disease activity and complications using multimodal imaging.