Sonography in acute ocular pathology: a kaleidoscopic view.

Ocular emergencies contribute to a large proportion of ocular pathologies. These may even be organ-threatening diseases such as central retinal artery and vein occlusion or globe rupture. Conventional physical examination may not always be feasible in emergency situations but decision-making in time is critical in the interest of patient in few of these conditions. Sonography in this setting plays an important role, allowing real-time, quick and dynamic evaluation. Common acute ocular pathologies such as retinal detachment, lens dislocation and globe rupture can be easily diagnosed by ultrasound. Vascular lesions can be identified using Doppler. This article illustrates the sonographic appearance in traumatic and non-traumatic acute ocular pathologies.

Progression rate of severity of aortic stenosis in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVE: Valvular heart disease is common in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, there is uncertainty about how often to perform echocardiographic surveillance in this population. The objective of this study was to assess the progression rate of mild and moderate aortic stenosis (AS) in patients with RA. METHODS: A population-based cohort of patients with RA and either mild (2.0-2.9 m/second) or moderate (3.0-3.9 m/second) AS was identified. Demographic, clinical, and echocardiographic data were collected. Annual progression rate of AS was then calculated for the study cohort and the impact of pertinent RA variables on progression rate determined. RESULTS: Sixty-eight patients with RA and mild or moderate AS met the inclusion requirements. Peak aortic valve (AV) velocity and mean AV gradient increased during the study period, whereas AV area decreased, consistent with progression of AS (P<.001). Mean (SD) annual increase in peak AV jet velocity was 0.05 m/second (0.01) and in mean AV gradient was 1.0 mm Hg (0.18). Mean annual decrease in AV area was 0.04 (0.01) cm2 . The progression rate of AS was higher in patients with increased erythrocyte sedimentation rates (ESR) (P=.001). CONCLUSIONS: The rate of AS progression in the RA population was higher in patients with increased ESR but less than that of the reported rate of AS progression in the general population. Although the cause for this finding is uncertain, these results suggest that patients with RA who have mild or moderate AS should undergo echocardiographic surveillance for disease progression similar to that of the general population.

Isolated Supravalular Aortic Stenosis with Infective Endocarditis presenting as Pyrexia of Unknown Origin.

Supravalvular aortic stenosis is a less common form of left ventricular outflow tract obstruction (LVOTO); commonest being the valvular aortic stenosis followed by valvular and subvalvular forms respectively. Most of the supravalvular aortic stenosis is associated with Williams syndrome; isolated supravalvular aortic stenosis is further rarer. We present a case of isolated SVAS with infective endocarditis (1.6) as the cause of pyrexia of unknown origin (PUO).

Orbital and ocular perfusion in thyroid eye disease.

Thyroid eye disease (TED) is characterized by enlargement of extraocular muscles, an increase in retrobulbar fat, orbital fibrosis, and fluctuations in plasma thyroid hormone levels in most patients, often associated with raised autoantibody titers. The occurrence of orbital space conflict compromises the orbital perfusion, unchecked progression of which results in irreversible loss of visual acuity and visual fields. The quantitative assessment of orbital perfusion can be done by measurement of blood flow velocities in the superior ophthalmic vein (SOV), ophthalmic artery (OA), central retinal artery (CRA), and posterior ciliary artery by color Doppler imaging. The retinal and choroidal microvasculature is studied by optical coherence tomography and optical coherence tomography angiography. The orbital and ocular perfusion fluctuates during the course of TED. Orbital congestion is reflected by the reduction or reversal of SOV flow and an increase in subfoveal choroidal thickness. The active phase is characterized by high blood flow velocities of the OA and CRA. The onset of dysthyroid optic neuropathy is associated with reduced arterial perfusion and reduction in parafoveal and peripapillary vascular density. Orbital decompression improves the SOV flow and decreases the resistivity index of CRA. Sequential evaluation of orbital hemodynamic changes can thus supplement the clinical scoring systems for monitoring and planning intervention in TED.

Alterations in retrobulbar haemodynamics in thyroid eye disease.

PURPOSE: To study the orbital perfusion parameters of ophthalmic artery (OA) and central retinal artery (CRA) in inactive TED and the changes following surgical decompression. METHODS: Non-randomised clinical trial. 24 inactive moderate-to-severe TED orbits of 24 euthyroid cases underwent surgical decompression and examined again at 3 months. The peak systolic velocity (PSV), end-diastolic velocity (EDV), and resistivity index (RI) of OA and CRA were evaluated using colour doppler imaging and normative database was established using 18 healthy controls. RESULTS: The mean age was 39.38 ± 12.56 years and male: female ratio was 1: 1.18. Intraocular pressure was higher, and CRA-PSV, CRA-RI, OA-PSV, and OA-EDV were lower in TED in comparison to heathy orbits. The CRA-PSV, CRA-EDV, OA-PSV, and OA-EDV negatively correlated with proptosis and duration of thyroid disease. The area under curve of OA-PSV (95% CI:0.964-1.000, p < 0.001) and OA-EDV (95% CI:0.699-0.905, p < 0.001) helped in differentiating TED orbits from HC, and in predicting the severity of disease. Post decompression, CRA-PSV, CRA-EDV, OA-PSV, and OA-EDV improved, with decrease in CRA-RI and OA-RI in both lipogenic and MO. CONCLUSIONS: The orbital perfusion is reduced in inactive TED. The changes in OA flow velocities can help in differentiating inactive TED from healthy orbits and progression of TED. Sequential orbital CDI of OA and CRA can serve as an objective tool for case selection and monitoring response to surgical decompression.

CT Imaging Features in Acute Invasive Fungal Rhinosinusitis- Recalling the Oblivion in the COVID Era.

OBJECTIVE: Recent pandemic of COVID19 infection has witnessed a re-emergence of invasive fungal sinusitis especially of the Mucor species, which has been a rare entity in the pre covid era. Covid associated mucormycosis (CAM) is one of the dreaded and fatal complications which has surfaced up and early diagnosis is critical for management and survival .It is identified to affect both subset of patients, those with active COVID-19 infection and those who have recovered from the disease in the last 4-6 weeks. Imaging features suggestive of early invasion with supportive imaging examples and relevance of these findings in clinical decision making is presented. METHODS: This paper reviews the various imaging signs of early invasion in CAM A comprehensive checklist for clinically relevant and quick reporting is also presented. RESULTS: Emphysematous or ulcerative mucosal changes in the nasal cavity is an early imaging feature of CAM. Periantral soft tissue and soft tissue within the pterygopalatine fossa are important imaging signs to indicate extrasinus invasion. Disease within pterygopalatine fossa may lead to multidirectional spread and is an important check site. These findings are seen even in absence of bony erosions owing to the neurovascular spread of disease. Intra orbital and intracranial extensions were found to be fairly common and must be sought for. CONCLUSION: The knowledge of early subtle signs of CAM on imaging can aid in prompt diagnosis of this fatal entity in the pertinent clinical setting. Imaging signs of spread of disease and delineation of its extent as inferred from CT imaging aids in prognosis and appropriate surgical management.

High resolution ultrasound in subclinical diabetic neuropathy: A potential screening tool.

INTRODUCTION: Detection of subclinical neuropathy can aid in triage, timely intervention and dedicated care to reduce disease progression and morbidity. High resolution sonography has emerged as a promising technique for evaluation of peripheral nerves. The aim of the present study was to assess the utility of high resolution sonography in screening diabetic patients for subclinical neuropathy. METHODS: A total of 70 adult patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and 30 controls were enrolled; those with clinical features of neuropathy constituted the diabetic polyneuropathy group and those without symptoms/normal nerve conduction the non-diabetic polyneuropathy group. After institutional ethical committee approval and informed consent, high resolution sonography was performed by two musculoskeletal radiologists. Nerves studied were median (elbow and wrist), ulnar (cubital tunnel and Guyon's canal), common peroneal (fibular head) and posterior tibial nerve (medial malleolus).The size (cross sectional area), shape, echogenicity and morphology of nerve were assessed and compared between the groups. RESULTS: The mean cross sectional area of all nerves was significantly higher both in diabetic polyneuropathy and non-diabetic polyneuropathy group compared to controls (p value < .001). Common peroneal nerve cross sectional area of 4.5 mm2 had the highest sensitivity (93%) and specificity (86%) for detecting nerve changes in the non-diabetic polyneuropathy group. The nerves were more rounded, hypoechoic and had an altered morphology in both study groups. CONCLUSION: Presence of sonographic nerve changes in asymptomatic diabetics depicted that morphological alterations in nerves precede clinical symptoms. High resolution sonography detected nerve changes with a good accuracy, and thus, can be a potential screening tool for detection of subclinical diabetic polyneuropathy.

Long-Term Outcomes After Aortic Valve Surgery in Patients With Asymptomatic Chronic Aortic Regurgitation and Preserved LVEF: Impact of Baseline and Follow-Up Global Longitudinal Strain.

OBJECTIVES: This study sought to determine whether baseline left ventricular global longitudinal strain (LV-GLS) and changes in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) in a subgroup of subjects at post-operative follow-up added prognostic value in patients undergoing aortic valve (AV) surgery. BACKGROUND: In patients with chronic severe aortic regurgitation (AR) and preserved LVEF, sensitive markers are needed to decide timing of AV surgery. METHODS: This was an observational study in 865 patients (asymptomatic/mildly symptomatic, 52 ± 15 years of age, 79% men) with ≥3+ chronic AR and preserved LVEF of ≥50% who underwent AV surgery between 2003 and 2015. All patients had baseline echocardiography (and LV-GLS imaging), whereas 285 patients underwent post-operative echocardiography (including LV-GLS). Primary outcome was mortality. RESULTS: Only 478 patients (56%) patients had preoperative LV-GLS values better than -19%, despite a mean LVEF of 57 ± 4%. At a median 38 days, 632 patients underwent AV replacement, whereas 233 patients had AV repair. At a median follow-up of 6.95 (interquartile range [IQR]: 5.2 to 9.1) years, 105 patients (12%) died (2% in-hospital deaths). A higher proportion of patients with baseline LV-GLS grades worse than -19% died versus those whose LV-GLS score was better (15% vs. 10%; p < 0.01), and worse LV-GLS value was independently associated with higher longer-term mortality (hazard ratio: 1.62; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.40 to 1.86]; p < 0.001). In the 285 patients who underwent echo at 3 to 12 months post-operatively, LVEF normalized in 91% patients; however, only 88 patients (31%) had LV-GLS values better than -19%. Patients whose follow-up LV-GLS value was better than -19% had significantly better longer-term survival than those whose LV-GLS was not (5% vs. 15%, respectively; p < 0.01). An absolute worsening of 5% of LV-GLS from baseline was associated with increased mortality. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with ≥3+ chronic AR and preserved LVEF undergoing AV surgery, a baseline LV-GLS value worse than -19% was associated with reduced survival. In a subgroup of patients who returned for 3- and 12-month follow-up examinations, persistently impaired LV-GLS was associated with increased mortality.