Selenium supplementation in thyroid eye disease: an updated review from a clinical ophthalmic perspective.

Thyroid eye disease (TED) consists of a spectrum of autoimmune orbital pathology that threatens patients' quality of life and vision. Research suggests that oxidative stress plays a role in both the thyroid gland and orbit. Selenium has been proposed as a potential therapeutic adjunct given its role in thyroid physiology and antioxidant metabolism. Furthermore, selenium status has been linked to multiple pathological thyroid states. Despite the preponderance of evidence demonstrating a role for selenium in thyroid disease, limited research exists highlighting its role in TED specifically. This review summarizes the pathophysiology and role of selenium in thyroid eye disease (TED) and the current body of evidence including in vitro and in vivo studies highlighting the role for supplementation in clinical ophthalmic practice. Notably, relatively lower selenium levels have been shown to have a modest correlation with severity of thyroid eye disease. Selenium supplementation has shown some benefit in patients with mild Graves' Orbitopathy in European populations presumed deficient. Despite the preponderance of evidence demonstrating a role for selenium in thyroid disease, limited data is available to conclusively expand its role in TED outside of a 6-month course of supplementation in selenium deficient or relatively deficient populations. Data subject to geographic and population differences in selenium levels limits the generalizability of supplementation in TED. Despite mechanistic evidence of its antioxidant effects in TED beyond the advantages of thyroid disease in general, the benefits of selenium supplementation should be interrogated further and contextually tailored in both clinical and research formats for ophthalmic practice.

Orbital malignant meningioma: a unique presentation of a rare entity.

An elderly female with progressive proptosis was found to have an aggressive retrobulbar solid orbital mass. The mass was distinct from the optic nerve sheath and intracranial meninges, and produced concave erosion of the sphenoid wing. Operative findings demonstrated an orbital mass adherent to the dura of the superior orbital fissure. The mass did not demonstrate meningeal violation, infiltrate the superior orbital fissure, or display intracranial spread. The dura remained intact after gross total resection. Histopathology revealed a malignant meningioma with papillary and focal rhabdoid morphology and bony invasion (WHO grade III). The patient received 2500cGy of stereotactic radiotherapy in addition to gross total resection. Postoperatively, the signs and symptoms of orbital mass effect resolved (proptosis, relative afferent papillary defect, and periorbital edema) and the vision improved. There was no orbital recurrence or intracranial extension. The follow-up time was limited to eight months secondary to the patient succumbing to metastatic lung adenocarcinoma, which was demonstrated to be a separate process from the orbital meningioma. We propose the etiology of this tumor to be most consistent with an orbital malignant primary extradural meningioma - the first case reported in the literature.

Association between oral fluoroquinolone use and lateral canthal tendon rupture: case report.

It is well established and documented that fluoroquinolone use is associated with the development of tendinopathy. However, little is known about the possible effects of this class of antibiotics on the orbit. We present a case of lateral canthal tendon rupture that presented with an acute right lower eyelid ectropion in a young, renal compromised patient in the setting of recent fluoroquinolone use for pneumonia. Eye care clinicians need to be aware of the possible effects of fluoroquinolones on the eyelids.

Orbital blowout fractures: a novel CT measurement that can predict the likelihood of surgical management.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to identify an accurate and reliable computed tomographic (CT) measurement that can identify those patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) with orbital floor fracture (BOF) who require surgical repair to prevent ensuing visually debilitating diplopia and/or enophthalmos. METHODS: In this retrospective institutional review board-approved study, we reviewed 99 patients older than 18 years with orbital fractures treated in a level I trauma center from 2011 through 2015. Thirty-three patients met the inclusion criteria of having an isolated BOFs with or without a minimally displaced medial wall fracture. The maxillofacial CT of these patients, which included axial, coronal, and sagittal reconstruction of the face in both soft tissue and bone algorithm, were independently reviewed by a neuroradiologist and an oculoplastic surgeon. Each reviewer analyzed the images to answer the following 3 questions: (1) extent of the fracture fragment; greater than or less than 50%? (2) involvement of the inframedial strut (IMS)? and (3) cranial-caudal discrepancy of the orbits. This novel measurement was defined as the difference between the cranial-caudal dimension (CCD), measured just posterior to the globe, of the fractured orbit minus the CCD of the normal side. Electronic medical record was reviewed to determine the course of recovery, ophthalmologist assessment of the globe, motility, diplopia, and the need for operative repair. Statistical analysis was performed to determine the accuracy of the measured CT parameters for the prediction of those who would ultimately require surgical repair. RESULTS: Of the 33 patients included in the study, 8 patients required surgical correction of their BOFs. Others were managed conservatively. The accuracy of BOF > 50% for predicting those requiring surgical repair was 48%. The accuracy of IMS involvement was 74%. Using a threshold CCD value of 0.8 cm, the accuracy of CCD was 94%. Cranial-caudal discrepancy had a sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 92%. κ Agreement between the 2 readers evaluating the CT images was 0.93. CONCLUSION: Initial maxillofacial CT studies obtained in the ED for those with BOF is used to predict which patients may need urgent surgical repair. In this report, we introduce a new CT measurement, called CCD. Cranial-caudal discrepancy greater than 0.8 cm is predictive of the development of diplopia and/or enophthalmos that will require surgical correction. Orbital floor fracture greater than 50% and IMS involvement were much less accurate in making similar predictions. Cranial-caudal discrepancy should be used by the ED physicians to identify those patients who should be referred sooner than later to an oculoplastic surgeon for surgical evaluation and intervention. Correct and timely triaging can prevent the complications of delayed correction including scarring, difficult surgical repair, and/or poor functional and aesthetic outcomes.

Waldenström macroglobulinemia of the orbit.

A 77-year-old man with known Waldenström macroglobulinemia was examined for unilateral proptosis and periorbital swelling. The patient was found to have an orbital mass involving the lateral wall. Histologic and immunophenotypic matching of the orbital mass to the patient's systemic findings were used to diagnose the orbital mass as a Waldenström macroglobulinemia tumor.