Clinicopathologic correlation of choroidal neovascularization demonstrated by indocyanine green angiography in a patient with retention of good vision for almost four years

The clinicopathologic features of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) with occult choroidal neovascularization (CNV) detected by digital indocyanine green (ICG) videoangiography in an 82-year-old woman are discussed. Serial sections through the macula of both eyes were prepared, and two-dimensional reconstruction maps depicting the histopathologic features were drawn. A technique by which electron microscopic examination of sections removed from glass slides was performed is described. Histopathologic examination of the lesion disclosed a 3.5 mm x 0.02 mm thick fibrovascular subretinal pigment epithelial choroidal neovascular membrane in an eye with diffuse basal laminar deposit in the macula. This case represents the first clinicopathologic correlation involving ICG videoangiography of CNV. The findings support the growing clinical impression that ICG videoangiography is of value in identifying what has been previously described as ill-defined or occult CNV.