Clinical Profile and Management Outcomes among Patients with Carotid-Cavernous Fistula.

Background: A carotid-cavernous sinus fistula (CCF) is an abnormal communication between the internal carotid artery and/or the external carotid artery and the cavernous sinus. There is a paucity of information on the ophthalmic outcomes of endovascular treatment for CCF in the Philippines. Objectives: This study aimed to describe the clinical experience of CCF in our institution in order to further our understanding of the disease. This study described the demographic profile, risk factors, and clinical features of patients with CCF, and compared the data of patients according to the type of CCF. The study discussed the changes in clinical features over time in CCF patients who chose not to undergo endovascular treatment. The study also discussed the clinical outcomes of CCF patients who underwent endovascular treatment and compared the clinical outcomes to CCF patients who did not undergo endovascular treatment. Methods: A retrospective cohort study design was performed using a medical record review of patients clinically diagnosed with CCF from January 2011 to June 2019. Results: One hundred twenty medical records of patients diagnosed with CCF were included. Based on angiographic findings, patients were grouped according to type of CCF, with 86 patients in Group 1 or Direct CCF, 23 patients in Group 2 or Indirect CCF, and 11 patients in Group 3 or Mixed type of CCF. The patients were also grouped according to treatment, with 109 patients in Group A, or patients who did not undergo endovascular treatment, and 11 patients in Group B, or patients who underwent endovascular treatment. There was a male predominance in CCF, most occurring in the age range of 26 to 35 years. Risk factors for CCF were trauma and hypertension. Clinical features included the presence of blurring of vision, proptosis, corkscrewing of conjunctival vessels, extraocular movement limitation, diplopia, audible bruit, elevated intraocular pressure, and pulsation. Findings on Computed Tomography scan included dilated superior ophthalmic vein, proptosis, and enlarged extraocular muscles. Direct CCF (Group 1) occurred mostly in males, with mean age of 39.1 years, and with trauma as the major risk factor. Indirect CCF (Group 2) occurred mostly in females, with mean age of 52.1 years, and with hypertension as the major risk factor. Regardless of the type of CCF, patients who did not undergo endovascular treatment can exhibit spontaneous improvement or worsening of clinical features. Patients who underwent endovascular treatment generally had favorable clinical outcomes, manifesting as either improvement or no worsening of features. There were minimal ophthalmic complications associated with treatment. Conclusion: Endovascular treatment is safe and effective in the improvement of visual acuity, corkscrewing of conjunctival vessels, amount of proptosis, extraocular movement limitation, diplopia, and presence of audible bruit.

Hyperostosis in orbital rhabdomyosarcoma.

Rhabdomyosarcoma is the most common soft-tissue sarcoma in paediatric patients and may arise as a primary orbital neoplasm. Imaging studies show a unilateral solitary orbital lesion. With larger tumours, erosion of the adjacent orbital walls is a common accompanying bony change. We present an unusual case of rhabdomyosarcoma in a preschool girl with proptosis and temporal bossing. Imaging studies showed a homogeneous, well-delineated, extraconal mass of the right orbit with hyperostosis of the adjacent sphenoid bone. After excision of the mass and debulking of the sphenoid bone, histopathology showed embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma with no malignant infiltration of the adjacent bone. This is the first reported case of hyperostosis associated with rhabdomyosarcoma. Periosteal reaction is the proposed underlying mechanism.

Risk Factors Associated with the Activity and Severity of Graves' Ophthalmopathy among Patients at the University of the Philippines Manila-Philippine General Hospital.

BACKGROUND: Asians with Graves' ophthalmopathy (GO) may have earlier compressive features due to narrower orbital apex and increased orbital volume. OBJECTIVE: To determine the risk factors associated with activity and severity of GO among adults. METHODOLOGY: This was a cross-sectional analytical study of 163 adults with Graves' disease (GD) from the outpatient clinics of the Philippine General Hospital. Demographics, clinical data, thyrotropin receptor antibody (TRAb) and urine iodine (UIE) levels were obtained. All participants were evaluated for activity and severity of GO by a single ophthalmologist. RESULTS: The population was predominantly composed of females (81%) and nonsmokers (69%), with a mean age of 35 + 11 years and median GD duration of 2 years. Median TRAb was 8.9 U/L while UIE was 171 mcg/L. Eight percent exhibited active GO, with 85% having mild disease. Multivariate analysis showed male sex to be associated with severe disease (OR 3.71, p=0.041), while elevated TRAb was associated with both active (OR 1.03, p=0.002) and severe GO (OR 1.02, p=0.007). CONCLUSION: Lower rates of active and severe GO were seen compared to previous reports. In this population of predominantly nonsmokers, elevated TRAb emerged as a risk factor for active and severe GO.