Swept-source optical coherence tomography and optical coherence tomography angiography in acquired toxoplasmic chorioretinitis: a case report

Toxoplasma gondii is a ubiquitous intracellular parasite deemed to be the leading infectious cause of posterior uveitis worldwide [1]. In high T. gondii endemic regions of the USA and Europe, ocular toxoplasmosis is the most frequent cause of posterior uveitis [2, 3]. Recent reports indicated that acquired infections affect a larger ocular portion than congenital ocular toxoplasmosis [4, 5].

Ocular toxoplasmosis is commonly detected by means of standard ophthalmic researches and its diagnosis is obtained through a clinical examination [6]. Seropositivity to T. gondii infection indicates a previous systemic exposure to the parasite. Toxoplasmic chorioretinitis can be congenital or acquired. The congenital form is due to a systemic maternal infection during pregnancy and causes scars in the fetus retina, which are often bilateral with macular involvement [7]. The acquired form appears in most cases (72%) as recurrence of a previous asymptomatic infection, with a concentration of necrotizing retinitis or retinochoroiditis adjacent to a variably pigmented chorioretinal scar. Usually, recurrences affect younger patients (mean age 30 years) with a positive immunoglobulin (Ig) G serology. However, older patients (mean age 51 years), in most cases, experience an acute primary chorioretinal lesion during a primary systemic infection, depending on their serology [7]. Active lesions are associated with symptomatic vitreous inflammation, which is the presenting symptom of ocular toxoplasmosis, which leads to blurred vision. The classical ocular manifestation of toxoplasmosis is a focal necrotizing retinitis or retinochoroiditis. A severe vitritis causes the classic “headlight in the fog” sign [8].

Swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT) is the latest milestone in retinal and choroidal imaging. Because its wavelength of 1050 nm, which is superior to the 840 nm of spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT), it is able to overcome ocular opacities such as cataracts and vitritis, allowing the retinal and choroidal visualization of eyes whose fundus is not clearly visible.

For the same reason, SS-OCT allows visualization of the retinal and choroidal vascular networks, even in eyes with medium opacity [9]. Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) is a non-invasive imaging technique that employs motion contrast imaging to high-resolution volumetric blood flow information generating angiographic images. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) angiograms are en face images which can be scrolled outward from the internal limiting membrane (ILM) up to the choroid in order to visualize the individual vascular plexus and segment the inner retina, outer retina, choriocapillaris, or other areas of interest [10]. In this case report we describe the SS-OCT and OCTA imaging techniques used in the case of a 57-year-old white woman suffering from primary acute toxoplasmic chorioretinitis. To the best of our knowledge, such a report has never been done before.

A 57-year-old white woman presented to the emergency department of the hospital in Novara, Italy, with sudden ocular pain and blurred vision in her left eye. The best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 20/20 in her right eye and 20/200 in her left eye. Her right eye was normal. Her left eye anterior segment showed an aqueous flare and the presence of cells and keratic precipitates without posterior synechiae. Intraocular pressure was 14 mmHg in her right eye and 20 mmHg in her left eye. A fundus examination showed an intense vitreitis and a focal necrotizing retinochoroiditis above the optic disc (Fig. 1a). As the pigmented chorioretinal scar adjacent to the active lesion was not visible, a clinical diagnosis of suspected primary ocular toxoplasmosis was made. The diagnosis had been confirmed by anamnestic data (our patient adopted a wildcat a few months before). Serology for T. gondii (IgM and IgG) was positive, but it was negative for other common uveal infections. Necrotic herpetic retinopathies, cytomegalovirus retinitis, syphilitic chorioretinitis, and tuberculous chorioretinitis were excluded by serological tests. In addition, a chest X-ray to detect hilar adenopathy of sarcoidosis was performed. The result was negative. After that, a systemic antibiotics combination therapy with pyrimethamine and sulfadiazine was performed and a steroid therapy with prednisone was started. Two months after healing, the inflammation completely disappeared. Analyzing the fundus, a non-pigmented atrophic chorioretinal scar without signs of vitreitis was clearly visible in the primary lesion site and a clinical examination showed that the BCVA was 20/25 in her left eye.

Despite the vitreitis (Fig. 1b–d, f–h), SS-OCT and OCTA (Triton Plus®, Topcon Corporation, Tokyo, Japan) were performed before and after the resolution of the disease. In particular, the SS-OCT showed nerve fiber swelling and choroidal thickening (Fig. 1b). The OCTA performed on the lesion showed an obliteration of the retinal capillary, choriocapillary, and deep choroidal vessels (Fig. 1c, d). Fluorescein angiography (FA) showed a hypofluorescence during the early phase, followed by a progressive hyperfluorescence that developed after the leakage phase; on the other hand, indocyanine green angiography (ICGA) showed a hypofluorescent lesion with characteristic hypofluorescent perilesional satellite lesions.

After healing, an SS-OCT performed on the lesion showed a hyper-reflective dome-shaped intraretinal mass involving the entire retinal thickness, associated with an increasing retinal thickness on the scar site (Fig. 1f). The retinal layers within the mass could no longer be recognized. The choroid had a normal thickness. An OCTA performed on the lesion showed a persistent retinal capillary plexus and a choriocapillaris failure with partial reperfusion of the deep choroidal vessels (Fig. 1g, h).

Non-invasive clinical imaging with SS-OCT and OCTA confirms that toxoplasmic uveitis affects the vitreous and all the retinal layers up to the choroid, causing inflammatory swelling of the retina and choroid. As previously described by Chen et al., despite the presence of intense vitreitis [11], the use of 1050 nm wavelength SS-OCT can provide better images than SD-OCT and TM-OCT. It also allows us to verify the involvement of the vitreous, retina, and choroid with a single scan image.

In this study we report for the first time OCTA images of toxoplasmic chorioretinitis from an acute stage to a quiescent stage. The OCTA confirmed the results of previous FA and ICGA studies [12] by showing a vascular obliteration of the retina and choroid, which is typical of toxoplasmic inflammatory lesions. After the resolution of the disease, the vascular obliteration appears to be only partially reversible in the periphery of the lesion, although not in the center. Furthermore, the choriocapillaris texture destruction persists around the obliterated area and only the deep choroidal vessels remain visible.

By performing FA, the chorioretinal vascular network was not clearly visible because it was masked by a rapid loss of dye from the vessels. Instead, the OCTA allowed us to visualize the entire lesion more clearly. In fact, because of the absence of dye, there was no interference due to early leakage. Compared to FA, OCTA has the advantage of determining more accurately which retinal vascular layer is affected.

The non-invasive OCTA and SS-OCT imaging techniques may help a physician to make the correct diagnosis, especially when a pigmented retinal scar is not visible. However, further studies in this regard are needed. Furthermore, OCTA may play a special role as a prognostic tool in regard to toxoplasmic uveitis. In particular, when the toxoplasmic lesion is close to the macula, OCTA may show the macula vascular involvement more effectively than FA. OCTA is also able to detect which retinal vascular layer is affected. In the current situation, in which the vascular obliteration in such pathology seems to be only partially reversible, OCTA may add valuable prognostic information for sight recovery after healing.