Cadaver dissection for oculoplastic procedures: A beginner's guide.

The purpose of this article is to form a basic guide for beginning the cadaver dissection training programs focused on oculoplastic surgical procedures. Ours was a collaborative study between the departments of Ophthalmology and Anatomy in a tertiary care teaching institute. We formed a step-wise approach to begin the cadaver dissection focused on the oculoplastic surgical procedures. The basics of cadaver procurement, processing, and preparation for dissections were described. The operative requirements of trainees, surgical handling of cadavers, and basic oculoplastic surgical steps were discussed. The types of embalming (cadaver preservation process) and steps have been described in detail. We have emphasized the preoperative discussion about the proposed dissections using standard teachings and skull models for easier understanding. Additional helping tools like soft embalming and injectable substances for better intra-dissection understanding (intra-arterial, intravenous and orbital injections) have been described. Post-dissection cadaver handing and soft-tissue disposal protocols have also been described. Overall, the cadaver dissections provide holistic surgical learning for the residents, specialty trainees, and practitioners. This article may act as a basic step-wise guide for starting the cadaver-based oculoplastics lab dissection in various institutes and workshops.

Occult Foreign Body of the Eyelid Presenting as Recurrent Eyelid Ecchymosis.

Treatment strategies for treating periocular retained foreign bodies depend on the nature of the foreign body, its composition, size, location, and presenting symptoms. Foreign bodies retained in the ocular adnexa can be asymptomatic and lie dormant for long periods of time. In this communication, we present the case of a 32-year-old female who presented with a history of multiple episodes of recurrent edema and ecchymosis of the left lower eyelid, occurring over the past three years. She had been involved in a vehicular accident 13 years ago, which resulted in multiple facial lacerations. She subsequently underwent primary wound repair and two skin grafting procedures. Imaging revealed a hyperdense foreign body located just within the inferolateral orbital rim. An exploration was performed, and a glass foreign body was recovered. We hypothesize that the dormant foreign body had migrated, and repeated microtrauma caused by the sharp edges of the glass piece, either spontaneous or triggered by trivial trauma such as eye rubbing, led to episodes of eyelid hemorrhage and edema. The unique aspects of this case are the unusually long period of quiescence before which the symptoms appeared, the atypical clinical signs, and the eventual recovery of this occult foreign body from the eyelid. This case also underscores the importance of a detailed history and the need for imaging in facial trauma.

Epiblepharon in a Case of Anterior Megalophthalmos: A Diagnostic Red Herring.

Epiblepharon is a condition characterized by the presence of a congenital horizontal fold of skin near the upper or lower eyelid margin and rarely requires intervention. In this communication, we present the case of a five-month-old child who had enlarged eyes, tearing, and intense photophobia; and was referred to as a case of congenital glaucoma. Congenital or infantile glaucoma can, indeed present with enlarged eyes, watering, and photophobia. However, in the absence of optic disc cupping and elevated intraocular pressures, a diagnosis of anterior megalophthalmos should be considered, especially in the presence of a very deep anterior chamber. Subsequent evaluation in our case established the diagnosis of anterior megalophthalmos along with concomitant bilateral epiblepharon. The child underwent surgery to correct the epiblepharon, following which, the tearing and photophobia resolved. The clinical characteristics of anterior megalophthalmos and the causality between an enlarged globe and epiblepharon are discussed in this article.

Nodal recurrences after stereotactic body radiotherapy for early stage non-small-cell lung cancer.

Lobectomy is considered the standard of care for early stage non-small-cell lung cancer. However, for those patients who remain unfit to undergo surgery due to advanced age, poor performance status, comorbidities, poor pulmonary reserve or a combination of these are now treated with stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT). Due to its noninvasive nature, lower cost, lower toxicity, reduced recovery time and equivalent efficacy, even medically operable patients are attracted to the option of SBRT despite the lack of level I evidence. Thus, studying the incidence and patterns of recurrence after SBRT help in understanding the magnitude of the problem, risk factors associated with the different patterns of recurrence, and aid in devising strategies to prevent them in future. Nodal recurrences are not uncommon after SBRT and can potentially lead to further seeding for distant metastases and ultimately poor survival. This review is aimed at reviewing the published data on the incidence of nodal recurrences after SBRT and compare it to surgery, identify potential risk factors for recurrence, salvage treatment options and prevention strategies.

Congenital Dermal Facial Temporal Sinus: Rare Presentation of Intraorbital Dermoid in Children.

We present a rare case of an intraorbital dermoid which was associated with a small temporal region dermal sinus in a 3-year-old child. This got infected and the child presented with orbital cellulitis. Definitive surgery involved excision of all the dermal elements using a superficial and intraorbital approach. We stress the need to evaluate, apparently benign lateral facial dermal sinuses as they may be the pointers of the underlying pathological deep dermoid cysts to avoid complications.

Giant Perivascular Epithelioid Cell Tumor of the Orbit: A Clinicopathological Analysis and Review of the Literature.

AIM: To describe and review the clinical, radiological, and histopathological characteristics of an orbital perivascular epithelioid cell tumor (PEComa). METHODS: A systematic review of clinical records, radiological investigations, microscopic features, and immunohistochemical characteristics was done. RESULTS: A 9-year-old female child presented with a year-long history of a large orbital mass associated with painless, progressive proptosis of the right eye. Radiologically, a well-defined orbital mass was seen with no intracranial extension. Excision was performed and histopathological examination showed uniform epithelioid cells in nests separated by thin fibrovascular septae. The tumor cells stained positively for Human Melanoma Black-45, but neg-atively for desmin, S-100, smooth muscle actin, MyoD1, microphthalmia-associated transcription factor, vimentin, CD10, CD31, and CD34 with a low proliferation index of 5-7%. Based on the tumor's morphological and immuno-histochemical characteristics, a diagnosis of giant orbital PEComa was made. No recurrence was seen at the last follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: PEComas are uncommon mesenchymal neoplasms that have typical histological features, with an immunohistochemical profile of negativity for epithelial markers and positivity for melanocytic markers. For benign PEComas, complete excision is advised. However, since PEComas elsewhere in the body have been known to be malignant, a close follow-up of such cases is recommended.

Retinal Findings on OCT in Systemic Conditions.

PURPOSE: Imaging technology has advanced by leaps and bounds in the recent past and has resulted in a much greater understanding of ocular diseases. The aim of this review article is to summarize optical coherence tomography (OCT) findings of various systemic conditions. METHOD: A systematic literature search of the Medline/PubMed database was performed. English articles up to April 2015 were included. Terms used for search included: Alzheimer's Disease; Multiple Sclerosis; Parkinson's Disease; Behçet's Disease; Schizophrenia; Migraine; Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome; Neurofibromatosis; Sickle Cell Disease; Renal diseases; Lupus Retinopathy; Valsalva Retinopathy; Whiplash Retinopathy; Shaken-Baby Syndrome; Choroidal metastases; Intracranial Hypertension; Drug toxicity; Deferoxamine; Sildenafil; Tamoxifen; Hydroxychloroquine; Chloroquine; Ethambutol; Lead; Sickle Cell Disease; and Thalassemia along with OCT. RESULTS: Studies have shown that inner retinal thinning could be the earliest sign of neurological diseases and may help to differentiate individuals with abnormalities. Outer retinal damage was noted in cancer-related retinopathy and secondary to drug toxicity as a diagnostic sign. This review article summarizes the OCT findings and their importance in early diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up in a varying spectrum of systemic diseases including neurological diseases, hematological diseases, cancer-related retinopathies, and systemic drug toxicity. CONCLUSION: OCT findings are useful to predict the probability of a disease, to diagnose it early, to differentiate between healthy and unhealthy tissue, and to assess the effect of therapeutic interventions in many systemic diseases.

Bilateral Type-I Duane's Retraction Syndrome with bilateral Crocodile Tears: A Case Report.

BACKGROUND: Duane's retraction Syndrome is a congenital form of strabismus characterized by horizontal eye movement limitation and globe retraction with palpebral fissure narrowing in attempted adduction. It may be associated with co-existing ocular and systemic pathologies. Crocodile tears, or a paradoxical gustatory lacrimal reflex can be either congenital or acquired. The congenital cases typically are associated with Duane's syndrome in most of the cases. CASE: We present in our case report, uncommon case of bilateral Duane's syndrome with bilateral crocodile tears - both of which can be assumed to be of probably central origin. Though several cases have been reported, there are very few from the Indian subcontinent. Here, we also review the literature of the syndrome with crocodile tears. CONCLUSION: All cases of Duane's retraction syndrome warrant a thorough screening for coexisting ocular and systemic abnormalities. Ours is a classic report of bilateral Duane's syndrome with bilateral congenital crocodile tears, the coexistence of these two anomalies emphasising the aetiology to be anomalous innervation occurring at central level i.e. is brain stem.

Neoadjuvant Systemic Chemotherapy in the Management of Extensive Eyelid Sebaceous Gland Carcinoma: A study of 10 Cases.

PURPOSE: To report the efficacy of neoadjuvant systemic chemotherapy in the management of eyelid sebaceous gland carcinoma (SGC). METHODS: Retrospective study of 10 patients that received neoadjuvant systemic chemotherapy (Cisplatin/Carboplatin and 5-Fluorouracil) for eyelid SGC. RESULTS: The mean age at presentation of eyelid SGC was 58 years (median, 55 years; range, 45 to 72 years). There were 6 females and 4 males. The mean tumor basal diameter was 36 mm (median, 31 mm, range, 20 to 65 mm), with orbital tumor extension in 9 cases. On the basis of TNM Classification, the tumors were classified as T3 (n = 10), N1 (n = 6), and M1 (n = 2). The mean number of cycles of neoadjuvant systemic chemotherapy per patient was 3 (median, 3; range, 3 to 4). The mean percentage reduction of tumor basal diameter after neoadjuvant chemotherapy was 74% (median, 80%; range, 30% to 100%). None of them had any major systemic side-effects of neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Postchemotherapy, surgical treatment for residual tumor was performed in 7 cases. Five cases underwent excision biopsy and 2 cases with residual orbital component underwent eyelid-sparing orbital exenteration. No tumor recurrence was noted in any of the 7 cases at a mean follow-up period of 18 months (median, 14 months; range, 3 to 63 months). One patient died due to systemic metastasis. CONCLUSION: Neoadjuvant systemic chemotherapy is effective and safe in the management of eyelid sebaceous gland carcinoma.

Conjunctival Leiomyosarcoma: A Report of Two Cases.

PURPOSE: Leiomyosarcoma is a common soft tissue tumor in the body. However, ocular leiomyosarcoma is rather uncommon. Herein, we describe the clinical and histopathological features of two cases of conjunctival leiomyosarcoma. There have only been three previously documented cases of conjunctival leiomyosarcoma. RESULTS: A 34-year-old male presented with a 2-year history of a whitish mass in the right eye. He underwent an incisional biopsy of the mass, which supported the diagnosis of leiomyosarcoma on histopathological examination. Computed tomography showed orbital extension of the mass, following which he underwent an eyelid sparing orbital exenteration of the right side. The second case was that of a 39-year-old male, who had a history of a whitish limbal mass, which had been previously excised elsewhere. The pre-operative clinical photographs and histopathology slides of the excised mass were reviewed. A histopathological diagnosis of conjunctival leiomyosarcoma was established and due to base positivity, he was treated with plaque radiotherapy. Both the cases showed no tumor recurrence or systemic metastasis at one-year follow-up. CONCLUSION: Primary conjunctival leiomyosarcoma is uncommon. Appropriate treatment of the tumor is associated with good prognosis.

Foam sclerotherapy for periorbital dermoid cysts.

PURPOSE: To report nonsurgical treatment of periorbital dermoid cysts with foam sclerotherapy using sodium tetradecyl sulfate (STS). METHODS: Single-center, retrospective, interventional case series. Clinical records of all patients diagnosed to have congenital orbital dermoid cyst and treated with STS foam sclerotherapy between 2012 and 2013 were reviewed. The ectodermal contents of the dermoid cyst were aspirated through a stab incision with 18G needle, followed by saline lavage. Intraluminal foam sclerotherapy was then performed using STS (30 mg/ml) in a proportion of 10% of the total aspirate volume. Retrospective data analysis included demographic profile, clinicoradiologic findings, and treatment outcomes of foam sclerotherapy. RESULTS: Four patients were treated in the given period. Average age at presentation was 20.2 years. All cysts were reported to be congenital in nature, and the location was medial angular in 2 cases, lateral angular in 1 case, and lateral orbitotemporal in 1 case. The average aspirate of the pultaceous cyst content was 3.75 ml (range, 2-5 ml). Of the 4 patients, 2 dermoid cysts resolved completely within 8 weeks. Two cysts showed partial response and required a second foam sclerotherapy to achieve complete resolution. At an average follow up of 13.25 months (range, 11-16 months), complete cyst resolution was noted. No sclerotherapy-related complications were observed. CONCLUSIONS: Foam sclerotherapy is successful in obliterating periorbital dermoid cysts and provides a minimally invasive nonsurgical approach to achieve an aesthetic result.

Phototherapeutic keratectomy outcomes in superficial corneal opacities.

PURPOSE: COMPARE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF PHOTOTHERAPEUTIC KERATECTOMY (PTK) IN TREATMENT CORNEAL DYSTROPHIES VERSUS SUPERFICIAL CORNEAL SCARS: visual outcomes, recurrence rate and safety profile. METHODS: PTK was performed in 51 eyes of 51 patients. Data regarding the indications for PTK, ablation depth, symptomatic relief, pre-and postoperative best spectacle-corrected visual acuity (BSCVA), spherical equivalent changes, recurrence and complications were analyzed. The indications for PTK in our study were classified into two categories - group A: patients with corneal dystrophies (n = 23) and the other group B (n = 28) with other indications. RESULTS: The average age of the patients was 47 years (±16.4). The mean follow up period was 15.16 months (±10.01 months). Post operatively, there were no significant complications. While the overall BSCVA in the patients improved from 20/41 (0.484) to 20/32 (0.645), group A showed improvement from 20/35 (0.561) to 20/29 (0.687), as compared to group B in which BSCVA improved from 20/47 (0.421) to 20/33 (0.611). The most common indication in group A was granular corneal dystrophy (n = 10) and the most common indication in group B was post traumatic/infectious corneal scar or opacity (n = 10). Eighty-six percent (n = 44) of all patients had alleviation of symptoms. Recurrence of symptoms was seen in 3 eyes of recurrent corneal erosions which required retreatment. CONCLUSION: PTK is a safe and effective procedure. The outcome of this study suggests that PTK improves BSCVA. PTK appears to improve ocular surface health. Furthermore, PTK can be recommended to most patients with corneal dystrophies as a treatment modality prior to other more invasive procedure (viz. penetrating keratoplasty).

Botulinum toxin A: is it really that fragile a molecule?

BACKGROUND: Botulinum toxin A is considered to be an extremely fragile molecule, with recommended usage of some reconstituted botulinum toxin A formulations within 4 hours of reconstitution. Extreme caution is recommended to avoid agitation of the vial. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the effect of reconstituted botulinum toxin A is maintained even when it is agitated vigorously. DESIGN: Experimental, comparative, animal study. PARTICIPANTS: Sixty-four white Swiss Webster mice, aged 2 to 4 weeks, arranged in eight separate groups. INTERVENTION: Reconstituted onabotulinumtoxinA (2.5 U/0.1 mL) was placed securely in a battery-operated mechanized apparatus. The apparatus with the vial was placed in the refrigerator, and the apparatus continuously inverted and straightened the onabotulinumtoxinA vial 30 times a minute. Eight mice were each injected intraperitoneally with 1 U of the agitated onabotulinumtoxinA on days 1, 3, 5, 7, 14, 21, 28, and 42, to evaluate the efficacy of the continuously agitated onabotulinumtoxinA. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Death of the mice, demonstrating efficacy of the onabotulinumtoxinA molecule. RESULTS: Half of each group of mice (4/8 mice) died within 48 hours of the injection (range 16-48 hours). CONCLUSION: The effect of botulinum toxin type A is maintained even when it is agitated vigorously for up to 6 weeks. The authors have indicated no significant interest with commercial supporters.