Posterior vitreous cortex hyalocytes visualization in asymmetric pigmented paravenous chorioretinal atrophy (PPCRA) using en face OCT.

Purpose: Pigmented paravenous chorioretinal atrophy (PPCRA) is a rare retinal disease with inflammatory or infectious associations affecting the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and choriocapillaris. While the clinical manifestations and imaging findings are well-documented in the literature, no reports exist describing potential biomarkers of intraocular inflammation or ischemia in this condition, such as the presence of posterior vitreous cortex hyalocytes. Observations: We report a case of a 26-year-old female who presented with progressive peripheral vision loss in both eyes over one year. Dilated fundus examination revealed bilateral, asymmetric bone-spicule pigmentary changes along the retinal veins, which appeared more advanced in the left eye. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) revealed the presence of numerous hyalocytes in both eyes 3 µm anterior to the inner limiting membrane (ILM). The morphology of the hyalocytes differed between the two eyes, suggesting different levels of activation related to the stage of the disease. Specifically, the left eye, with more advanced disease, exhibited hyalocytes with multiple elongated processes consistent with a quiescent state, whereas the right eye, with the less advanced disease state, exhibited amoeboid-appearing hyalocytes suggestive of more active inflammation. Conclusions: This case illustrates how hyalocyte morphology may reflect the underlying activity of an indolent retinal degeneration and provide a useful biomarker of disease progression.

The impact of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) on diagnosis and management of infectious uveitis at a tertiary care facility.

BACKGROUND: Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) is a well-accepted adjunct in the management of infectious uveitis. In turn, few reports in the literature have evaluated how PCR then impacts patient care. This study aims to evaluate the impact of PCR sampling on diagnosis and treatment of infectious uveitidies at a large tertiary care facility. MAIN BODY: This is a retrospective, observational study of patients with aqueous and vitreous PCR samples obtained from 2014 to 2019. The study was undertaken at a single institution. At least one follow up visit following results of PCR testing was required for inclusion. If a patient had multiple PCR samples taken, only the first sample was included. The patients were divided into three categories based on pre-sampling diagnosis. A chi-square test was used to analyze the data. 108 cases were available for analysis. PCR did not change diagnosis or management in any of the cases where pre-sampling diagnosis carried a high clinical suspicion for negative PCR. Overall, the results of PCR testing had a more significant impact on diagnosis in those cases where pre-sampling diagnosis was unknown versus those where it was confirmatory in nature, thus presumed to be related to an infectious entity tested by PCR (74% vs. 29%, p = 0.00006). The rate of treatment change based on PCR was similar between those cases where there was a high clinical suspicion for positive PCR and those where pre-sampling diagnosis was unknown (32% vs. 33%, p = 0.95). Further analyzing specimens separately depending on source of sample, this pattern persisted for aqueous samples, with PCR showing a more significant impact on diagnosis in those cases where the diagnosis was unknown versus those where sampling was confirmatory (86% vs. 31%, p = 0.00004). The rate of change in treatment between the two groups was similar (35% vs. 31%, p = 0.79). Vitreous samples followed a similar pattern with a higher rate of diagnosis change for those cases where pre-sampling diagnosis was unknown and a similar rate in treatment change between the two groups, however this did not reach statistical signifigance (44% vs. 25%, p = 0.28; 27% vs. 33%, p = 0.74). CONCLUSION: There is no well-defined algorithm as to when to employ PCR testing in uveitis. As expected, in our experience, it has the largest impact on diagnosis when the diagnosis is unknown, however even when confirmatory in nature, it continues to impact patient management.

Lacrimal sac adenocarcinoma managed with androgen deprivation.

PURPOSE: To describe a case of primary lacrimal sac adenocarcinoma treated primarily with androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) with good clinic response. OBSERVATIONS: An 82-year-old male presented with a painless right orbital mass. Pathology following partial resection was consistent with primary lacrimal sac adenocarcinoma positive for androgen receptors (AR). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan showed an orbital mass with extension into the nasolacrimal apparatus and intraconally between the medial and inferior recti. Staging positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) showed one hypermetabolic right sided lymph node in addition to the known orbital mass. Orbital exenteration and external beam radiation therapy were offered as the primary treatment modality however the patient refused. He subsequently received four years of androgen deprivation monotherapy, before stopping due to sexual side effects, with no progression of local or metastatic disease and some local regression documented on MRI at 5 years. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPORTANCE: Lacrimal sac adenocarcinoma is commonly found to be AR positive on pathology. Our case shows that ADT can serve as an effective treatment modality for those patients that defer primary surgical management.

Can Macula and Optic Nerve Head Parameters Detect Glaucoma Progression in Eyes with Advanced Circumpapillary Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Damage?

PURPOSE: To evaluate the ability of OCT optic nerve head (ONH) and macular parameters to detect disease progression in eyes with advanced structural glaucomatous damage of the circumpapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (cRNFL). DESIGN: Longitudinal study. PARTICIPANTS: Forty-four eyes from 37 patients with advanced average cRNFL damage (≤60 µm) followed up for an average of 4.0 years. METHODS: All patients were examined with spectral-domain OCT and visual field (VF) assessment during at least 4 visits. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: Visual field mean deviation (MD) and VF index. OCT cRNFL (average, superior, and inferior quadrants), ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (GCIPL) (average, superior, and inferior), rim area, cup volume, average cup-to-disc (C:D) ratio, and vertical C:D ratio. RESULTS: At baseline, patients had a median VF MD of -10.18 dB and mean cRNFL of 54.55±3.42 µm. The rate of change for MD and VF index were significant. No significant rate of change was noted for cRNFL, whereas significant (P < 0.001) rates were detected for GCIPL (-0.57±0.05 µm/year) and ONH parameters such as rim area (-0.010±0.001 mm2/year). CONCLUSIONS: Macula GCIPL and ONH parameters may be useful in tracking progression in patients with advanced glaucoma.

Long term results from a prospective database on high dose rate (HDR) interstitial brachytherapy for primary cervical carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: Present long-term outcomes in primary cervical cancer treated with external beam and high dose rate interstitial brachytherapy. METHODS: High dose rate (HDR) interstitial (IS) brachytherapy (BT) and external beam (EBRT) were administered from 1992 to 2009 to 315 patients who were unsuitable for intracavitary (IC) BT alone. Histology was 89% squamous cell, 8% adenocarcinoma, and 3% adenosquamous. FIGO stage was I-14%, II-47%, III-34%, and IVA-5%. Median tumor size was 6cm. Lymph node metastases were 26% pelvic and 9.5% para-aortic. Treatment planning was 49% 2D and 51% 3D-CT. The mean doses were central EBRT EQD210 37.3±4.3Gy (sidewall 49.2±3.6Gy) and HDR EQD210 42.3±5.3Gy (nominal 5.4Gy×6 fractions using a mean of 24 catheters and 1 tandem). Total EQD210 mean target dose was 79.5±5.4Gy. Standardized planned dose constraints were ICRU points or D0.1cc bladder 80%, rectum 75% and urethra 90% of the HDR dose per fraction. Morbidity assessment was CTCAEv3. Median and mean follow-up were 50 and 61months (3-234). RESULTS: The 10-year actuarial local control was 87%, regional control 84%, and loco-regional control 77%. Distant metastasis free survival was 66%, cause specific survival 56%, disease free survival 54%, and overall survival 40%. The rates of late grade GU and GI toxicities were 4.8% G3 and 5.4% G4. CONCLUSIONS: Template-guided interstitial can be safely performed to successfully deliver high radiation dose to locally advanced cervix cancer and avoid excessive dose and injury to adjacent vital pelvic organs. We achieved high tumor control with low morbidity in patients who were poor candidates for intracavitary brachytherapy.

High-Dose-Rate Monotherapy for Localized Prostate Cancer: 10-Year Results.

PURPOSE: High-dose-rate (HDR) brachytherapy was originally used with external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) to increase the dose to the prostate without injuring the bladder or rectum. Numerous studies have reported HDR brachytherapy is safe and effective. We adapted it for use without EBRT for cases not requiring lymph node treatment. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We entered the patient demographics, disease characteristics, and treatment parameters into a prospective registry and serially added follow-up data for 448 men with low-risk (n=288) and intermediate-risk (n=160) prostate cancer treated from 1996 to 2009. Their median age was 64 years (range 42-90). The median prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level was 6.0 ng/mL (range 0.2-18.2). The Gleason score was ≤6 in 76% and 7 in 24%. The median dose was 43.5 Gy in 6 fractions. The clinical and biochemical disease control and survival rates were calculated. Adverse events were graded according to the Common Toxicity Criteria of Adverse Events. RESULTS: The median follow-up period was 6.5 years (range 0.3-15.3). The actuarial 6- and 10-year PSA progression-free survival was 98.6% (95% confidence interval [CI] 96.9%-99.4%) and 97.8% (95% CI 95.5%-98.9%). Overall survival at 10 years was 76.7% (95% CI 69.9%-82.2%). The local control, distant metastasis-free survival, and cause-specific survival were 99.7% (95% CI 97.9%-99.9%), 98.9% (95% CI 96.3%-99.7%), and 99.1% (95% CI 95.8%-99.8%). T stage, initial PSA level, Gleason score, National Comprehensive Cancer Network risk group, patient age, and androgen deprivation therapy did not significantly correlate with disease control or survival. No late grade 3 to 4 rectal toxicities developed. Late grade 3 to 4 genitourinary toxicity occurred in 4.9% (grade 3 in 4.7%). CONCLUSIONS: HDR monotherapy is a safe and highly effective treatment of low- and intermediate-risk prostate cancer.

Ureteral stent insertion for gynecologic interstitial high-dose-rate brachytherapy.

PURPOSE: To determine the utility of ureteral stents in interstitial gynecological brachytherapy. METHODS AND MATERIALS: We reviewed 289 patients with cervix cancer treated with high-dose-rate interstitial brachytherapy who did not have pretreatment hydronephrosis to determine the relative incidence of benign ureteral strictures after treatment. We also did comparative dosimetry analysis in five cases of high-dose-rate brachytherapy. Bilateral ureteral stents were placed during the procedure. Three dosimetry plans were created to determine the impact of modifying clinical target volume (CTV) and applying ureteral dose constraints. In Plan 1, the ureters were contoured and excluded from the CTV and 120% dose constraints were applied. In Plan 2, the ureters were contoured and excluded, but no dose constraints were applied to the ureter. In Plan 3, the CTV was created as if the location of the ureters was unknown and then ureteral dose was determined. RESULTS: There were 11 ureteral strictures observed in 255 nonstented cases and 0 ureteral strictures in 34 stented cases. Plan 1 reduced the ureter dose (D(0.1cc)) by a median 22% (7.0-53.8%) compared with Plan 2 and by a median of 30.9% (12.3-65%). compared with Plan 3. CONCLUSIONS: Placement of stents and ureteral dose constraints facilitates dosimetry and reduces the dose to ureters. Temporary ureteral stents prevent obstruction during interstitial gynecologic brachytherapy and allows the ureters to be addressed as an organ at risk.