LARGE RETINAL CAPILLARY ANEURYSM

Abstract

Purpose:To develop consensus nomenclature among international retinal specialists for the distinctive optical coherence tomography finding of a lesion originating from the retinal capillary bed, measuring >= 100 mu m in size, and characterized by a hyperreflective wall with a hyporeflective lumen.Methods:A comprehensive literature search was performed from inception to January 2024 on three databases to elicit publications reporting on relevant vascular abnormalities and corresponding nomenclature. A panel of retinal specialists with expertise in this topic reviewed the list of candidate terms and proposed other names for the lesion of interest. A refined list was then incorporated into a Delphi survey, which was distributed to the general membership of the International Retinal Imaging Society. Consensus was defined as at least 70% agreement among participants.Results:An expert panel (n = 11) reviewed candidate names for the lesion, with poor agreement noted among panel members regarding the relevant nomenclature. In the first Delphi survey (n = 70 International Retinal Imaging Society members), the need for a unified nomenclature was highlighted and two leading candidate names were established: large retinal capillary aneurysm (n = 38, 54.3%) and retinal capillary macroaneurysm (n = 14, 20.0%). A second follow-up survey (n = 54 International Retinal Imaging Society members) established large retinal capillary aneurysm (n = 44, 81.5%) as the consensus term to identify the optical coherence tomography vascular abnormality.Conclusion:This Delphi project reached consensus on a unifying term, large retinal capillary aneurysm, for a specific and signature optical coherence tomography lesion. Identification of this characteristic optical coherence tomography finding and adoption of this term may facilitate diagnosis, guide therapeutic decisions, and improve clinical and scientific communication.