Cryo-assisted anterior approach for surgery of retroocular orbital tumours avoids the need for lateral or transcranial orbitotomy in most cases.

PURPOSE: To describe and evaluate a cryo-assisted, minimally invasive, anterior approach for orbital tumour surgery. METHODS: Retrospective, non-comparative, consecutive, interventional case series of 103 patients who were operated on by the same surgeon for retroocular orbital tumours over the last 16 years. RESULTS: A cryo-assisted, minimally invasive, anterior approach was employed in 63 out of the 103 patients (61.2%). In 37 patients (35.9%), anterior orbitotomy without the use of cryoprobe was employed for biopsy or excision of small, anteriorly located lesions. Lateral orbitotomy was used in three patients (2.9%). In a subgroup of 61 patients with circumscribed lesions (mainly cavernous haemangiomas and schwannomas), cryoextraction was used in 51 (83.6%). None of the procedures required conversion to lateral orbitotomy and there were no intraoperative complications. CONCLUSION: In contrast to other reports on the treatment of orbital lesions, in the current case series surgery of most solid tumours and many other cystic or infiltrative lesions was achieved here via an anterior, cryo-assisted approach, and thus with minimal trauma to the orbit. This approach warrants more favourable consideration because the combination of the anterior approach with the use of cryoprobe and surgical microscope can yield successful results, even in patients with large or deeply located tumours - obviating in most of them the need for lateral or transcranial orbitotomies with bone flaps.

Triamcinolone acetonide injection for persistent atypical idiopathic orbital inflammation.

PURPOSE: To report a patient with atypical idiopathic orbital inflammation who was successfully treated with intra-orbital injections of triamcinolone acetonide. METHODS: Interventional case report and literature review. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Resolution of orbital inflammation. RESULTS: A 71-year-old female with right orbital mass and conjunctival inflammation underwent orbital biopsy that was consistent with the diagnosis of atypical idiopathic orbital inflammation. Inflammation has deteriorated despite oral steroids. The patient underwent two additional orbital biopsies that confirmed the initial diagnosis. Intra-orbital injections of triamcinolone acetonide resulted in significant improvement and cessation of active inflammation. CONCLUSIONS: Intra-orbital injections of triamcinolone acetonide may be an effective alternative in patients with atypical idiopathic orbital inflammation unresponsive to systemic steroids.

Early versus late repair of orbital blowout fractures.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To compare early and late surgical repair of orbital blowout floor fractures. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective, comparative interventional case series reviewed medical records of 50 consecutive patients who underwent unilateral orbital floor fracture repair in a 4-year period. Comparative analysis was performed between patients operated on within 2 weeks of injury and those operated on at a later stage. RESULTS: Assault, motor vehicle accidents, and sports injuries were the most common causes of injury. Surgery was performed due to inferior rectus muscle entrapment and limitations in up gaze in 20 (40%) patients or to prevent enophthalmos in cases with significant bony orbital expansion in 30 (60%) patients. After surgery, enophthalmos improved an average of 0.8 mm. Limitation in ocular motility improved after surgery but was statistically significant only in up gaze. Patients who underwent early repair (within 2 weeks) achieved less improvement in enophthalmos versus patients who underwent late repair (delta enophthalmos of 0.2 +/- 1.1 vs 1.3 +/- 1.9 mm, respectively; P = .02). CONCLUSION: In these patients, postoperative vertical ductions and postoperative enophthalmos improved after fracture repair. Surgery was associated with a low rate of postoperative complications. No apparent difference in surgical outcome was seen between early (within 2 weeks) and late surgical repair.

Modified conjunctivodacryocystorhinostomy for upper lacrimal system obstruction.

OBJECTIVE: To describe a modified technique for conjunctivodacryocystorhinostomy (CDCR) and to compare this technique with the standard transcaruncular placement of the glass tube. METHODS: Patients with upper lacrimal system obstruction underwent CDCR at the Jules Stein Eye Institute during a 3-year period. Thirteen patients underwent modified CDCR leaving the caruncle intact, while 7 patients underwent Jones glass tubes placement through a caruncular incision (conventional CDCR). Data regarding ocular and tearing history were recorded and analyzed. Success rates, defined as complete improvement in tearing, were compared between patients who underwent standard CDCR and those who underwent modified CDCR. Main outcome measures included symptom relief, patients' tolerance of the Jones tube, and surgical complications. RESULTS: Nineteen patients (12 men and 7 women; mean age, 66 years) underwent 20 CDCR surgical procedures with Jones tube placement. Previous lacrimal history included malignancy of the ocular adnexa, trauma, chemotherapy, and previous failed dacryocystorhinostomy. Success was found in 13 surgical cases (65%) and partial improvement was found in 4, giving a qualified success rate of 85%. Patients who underwent modified CDCR were more likely to undergo a successful surgery compared with patients who underwent conventional CDCR, with 11 (85%) of 13 cases achieving complete improvement vs 2 (29%) of 7 cases in the conventional CDCR group (P = .03, Fisher exact test). Complications included 1 case of migration and loss of the Jones tube. CONCLUSION: Modified CDCR results in partial or complete resolution of tearing in nearly 92% of cases, allowing for an improved outcome both functionally and cosmetically compared with conventional CDCR.

Increased levels of transforming growth factor-betal and -beta2 in the aqueous humor of patients with neovascular glaucoma.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To measure the concentrations of transforming growth factor-betal and beta2 (TGF-beta1 and TGF-beta2) in the aqueous humor of patients with neovascular glaucoma (NVG). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients were divided into four groups: NVG secondary to central retinal vein occlusion (group 1), NVG secondary to proliferative diabetic retinopathy (group 2), central retinal vein occlusion without rubeosis (group 3), and senile cataract (group 4). The total TGF-beta 1 and TGF-beta2 concentrations in the aqueous humor of the four groups were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: The mean concentrations of total TGF-betal were 600.7 +/-436.7 microg/mL in group 1, 802.0 +/-359.5 pg/mL in group 2, and undetectable in groups 3 and group 4 (P < .05). The mean concentrations of total TGF-beta2 were 6,307.9+/- 2,206.2 microg/mL in group 1, 5,908.0+/-2,033.2 microg/mL in group 2, 899.7+/- 425.6 microg/mL in group 3, and 385.7 +/-89.9 microg/mL in group 4. The total TGF-betal and TGF-beta2 concentrations in groups 1 and 2 were significantly higher than those in groups 3 and 4, whereas the total TGF-beta2 concentration in group 3 was significantly higher than that in group 4 (P < .05). There was no significant difference in the TGF-betal or TGF-beta2 concentrations between groups 1 and 2 (P> .05). CONCLUSIONS: The abnormally high concentrations of TGF-betal and TGF-beta2 in the aqueous humor of patients with NVG may explain some aspects of the pathogenesis of NVG and the high failure rate of filtering operations in NVG.

Comparing outcomes of enucleation and evisceration.

PURPOSE: To compare clinical outcomes of enucleation and evisceration by functional and aesthetic measures. DESIGN: Retrospective, nonrandomized, comparative analysis. PARTICIPANTS: Eighty-four patients who underwent enucleation or evisceration. METHODS: The medical records of the participants were retrospectively reviewed. Clinical photographs were graded by blinded observers for qualitative measures. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Postoperative eyelid and motility measurements, as well as subjective grades of various aesthetic and functional outcomes. RESULTS: There is no statistically significant difference in the overall aesthetic outcome of enucleation and evisceration, although several specific comparisons were found to be significant. Implant motility score is higher in eviscerated eyes (5.58+/-2.08) than in enucleated eyes (4.35+/-1.69) (P = 0.05). Adduction of the implant is significantly less than abduction in eviscerated eyes (1.34 vs. 1.44; P = 0.02). Implant motility is greater than prosthesis motility. Both enucleation and evisceration result in enophthalmos and a sulcus defect. Seven of 32 patients (21.9%) who underwent enucleation experienced a complication, whereas only of 7 of 52 patients (13.5%) who underwent evisceration experienced a complication (P = 0.0002). The 2 most common complications were implant exposure and formation of a pyogenic granuloma. CONCLUSIONS: Although enucleation and evisceration produce aesthetically similar outcomes, eviscerated eyes have better implant motility and experience fewer complications. Both enucleation and evisceration result in enophthalmos, sulcus contour defects, and incomplete transfer of implant motility to the prosthesis.

Anhidrotic ectodermal dysplasia with spontaneous corneal perforation and keratoconus.

A patient with anhidrotic ectodermal dysplasia and severe dry eyes was admitted with spontaneous corneal perforation in his right eye. The corneal perforation was sealed with cyanoacrylate glue and bandage contact lens placement. Three weeks later, the patient underwent penetrating keratoplasty. On follow-up examination, he had corneal graft abscess that was treated successfully with topical antibiotics and corneal erosion that was treated with a bandage contact lens. Corneal topography performed as a routine examination showed inferior corneal steepening typical of keratoconus in the left eye. This accidental discovery of keratoconus in the patient's left eye may suggest a possible association between anhidrotic ectodermal dysplasia and keratoconus.