A team of researchers discovered that spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) as an initial diagnostic test has a sensitivity and a specificity similar to fluorescein angiography (FA) in diagnosing choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in age-related macular degeneration. Both tests were combined color fundus photography.

The study evaluated 148 eyes of 148 patients at least 50 years of age who were referred for suspicious recent-onset CNV. The team found that the sensitivities of OCT and FA were 90.9%. Type 2 CNV was diagnosed in 98% to 100% of cases using both modalities, while Type 1 CNV was diagnosed in 82.9% of cases with OCT and 81.6% with angiography.

The study concludes that OCT plays an increasingly important role as a first-line test in the diagnosis of CNV.