Translation and validation of the Polish version of the EORTC QLQ-OPT30 module for the assessment of health-related quality of life in patients with uveal melanoma.

The purpose of this study was to translate into Polish and validate the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Quality of Life Questionnaire Ophthalmic Module (QLQ-OPT30). The QLQ-OPT30 was translated and pilot-tested according to EORTC guidelines. Patients were qualified based on the histological or ophthalmoscopic and ultrasonographic diagnosis of uveal melanoma. Each patient filled out the Polish version of the EORTC Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30), the QLQ-OPT30 module and a personal questionnaire. Patients were divided into three groups according to treatment type, melanoma localisation and possible negative outcomes of the disease or treatment. Reliability and validity test were performed and patients' comments were analysed. Our study included 94 patients--50 women (53.2%) and 44 men (46.8%) in the mean age of 58.4 (±13) years. Treatment type and melanoma location did not influence the health-related quality of life. The QLQ-OPT30, apart from two scales, showed positive internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha coefficients range: 0.70-0.88). We found the Polish version of the EORTC QLQ-OPT30 module a useful tool for measuring health-related quality of life in uveal melanoma patients. Although its discriminative validity is somewhat limited it still can be recommended for clinical use in the Polish population.

[Coexistence of unilateral retinoblastoma and Leber-Coats's disease in contralateral eye-case report]. / Przypadek wspólistnienia jednostronnego siatkówczaka z choroba Lebera-Coatsa w drugim oku.

PURPOSE: A case report of retinoblastoma and Leber-Coats' disease coexistence--two diseases which are very dangerous to the organ of vision. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The paper presents a young patient who was sent to our Clinic at the age of 6 with very advanced unilateral retinoblastoma. He underwent enucleation of the eyeball as the initial treatment. Histopathological examination confirmed clinical diagnosis without infiltration of optic nerve or sclera. After 9 years of oncological observation there were characteristic changes for Leber's angiomatosis (temporo-inferior part of the retina) in another eye. Laserocoagulation of changes was performed twice. RESULTS: During 14 years of observation there was no retinoblastoma recurrence. In the peripheral part of the retina in the only eye there is constant progression of vessel changes which are the sources of periodical preretinal bleeding. In the macular region there were extensive exudative changes which lifted the retina and caused the total secondary retinal detachment. Laser photocoagulation, cryopexy and steroid therapy were ineffective. Ultimately the patient's visual acuity at distance deteriorated to light perception.

[Trans-scleral resection of the ciliary body and choroidal melanoma]. / Przeztwardówkowa resekcja czerniaka ciala rzeskowego i naczyniówki.

PURPOSE: To present our preliminary results of trans-scleral resection of ciliary body and choroidal melanoma. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 16 patients aged 20-73 years (mean 56 years) were treated from February 1999 to March 2000. There were 10 patients with ciliary body tumors, 2 with choroidal tumors and in 4 patients the tumor involved ciliary body and choroid. The mean basal diameter of tumors was 9.4 mm and the mean thickness was 7.2 mm. Trans-scleral resection was performed in all cases. Adjunctive radiotherapy using 106Ru plaques was applied in 7 cases. RESULTS: Histopathologically the diagnosis of melanoma was confirmed in all cases. In 10 cases there were spindle cell melanomas and in 6 mixed type. The intra-operative complications were vitreous hemorrhage in 3 patients, vitreous loss in three and both complications in one patient. Post-operative complications occurred in 3 cases of single instances each of retinal detachment, retinal edema and haemophthalmus. After surgery visual acuity did not change in 9 eyes, improved in 2 and deteriorated in 5 eyes. CONCLUSIONS: Our preliminary results confirm the opinion that trans-scleral resection could be a valuable method in the treatment of intraocular melanoma.

Fluorophotometric evaluation of blood-retinal barrier permeability in patients with essential hypertension.

AIM: The fluorophotometric evaluation of the blood-retinal barrier (BRB) integrity in patients with essential hypertension (EH) without signs of BRB damage. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 55 subjects participated in the study: 36 patients with EH and 19 normotensive healthy volunteers; 22 men and 33 women. The protocol included ophthalmic examination, fluorescein angiography, fluorophotometry, laboratory tests (total cholesterol, LDL and HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, fibrinogen, serum creatinine concentration, fasting glucose concentration, oral glucose test), urinary cotinine concentration measurement and cotinine-creatinine ratio (CCR) calculation. RESULTS: BRB permeability (P(BRB)) in patients with EH was significantly higher than in the control group (2.24 +/- 0.68 vs. 1.64 +/- 0.64 nm/s; p = 0.003). In hypertensive patients with CCR >50 ng/mg, the P(BRB) was significantly higher than the P(BRB) in healthy volunteers not exposed to smoke (2.32 vs. 1.68 nm/s; p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The P(BRB) in patients with EH is significantly higher than that in the normotensive control group, which shows the damaging effect of EH on the BRB.