RESUMEN
PURPOSE: To study the topography of retinal breaks and their agreement with Lincoff's rules. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective descriptive study of patients with recent rhegmatogenous retinal detachments followed on the ophthalmology service of Abass Ndao Hospital from January 2006 through December 2016. Patients with no prior retinal treatment were included. RESULTS: Over 11 years, we reviewed 97 patients with 107 eyes with retinal detachments. The mean age of our patients was 51.7 years, range 23-79 years. There were 69 male patients, for a male:female ratio of 2.46. Refraction revealed that 38.1% of patients were myopes. Fourteen percent (14%) of patients had experienced trauma to the eye with the detachment. The right eye was involved in 54.6% of patients. The onset was insidious in 54.6% of cases and sudden in 23.7% of cases. All patients had decreased visual acuity, associated with a scotoma in 26.8% of cases. Visual acuity was decreased to light perception through 7/10. In 64.9% of cases, Lincoff's rules were observed. DISCUSSION: Lincoff's rules are still relevant for localization of the breaks in retinal detachments. CONCLUSION: Diagnosis of a retinal detachment is an essential step, since it determines the treatment. Lincoff's rules still have a role in finding the retinal break in retinal detachments.
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Técnicas de Diagnóstico Oftalmológico , Desprendimiento de Retina/diagnóstico , Perforaciones de la Retina/diagnóstico , Adulto , Anciano , Topografía de la Córnea/métodos , Estudios Transversales , Técnicas de Diagnóstico Oftalmológico/normas , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Miopía/complicaciones , Miopía/diagnóstico , Miopía/patología , Reproducibilidad de los Resultados , Desprendimiento de Retina/complicaciones , Desprendimiento de Retina/patología , Perforaciones de la Retina/complicaciones , Perforaciones de la Retina/patología , Estudios Retrospectivos , Pruebas de Visión , Adulto JovenRESUMEN
INTRODUCTION: Retinoblastoma is a malignant tumor of neuroepithelial origin, developed from young retinal cells, occurring in infants and young children. The goal of the study was to assess the role of CT in the diagnosis of retinoblastoma at the Aristide le Dantec Hospital in Dakar. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This is an 11-year retrospective study of 160 patient records in the ophthalmology department and pediatric oncology unit of the same hospital. RESULTS: One hundred and sixty (160) patients were recruited. The male:female ratio was 1.05. The mean age was 32.19 months. Leukocoria was the most common clinical sign, occurring in 105 cases (65.62 %). The retinoblastoma was intraocular in 97 cases (60.62 %). We saw 122 (76.25 %) unilateral and 3 (1.87 %) trilateral presentations. CT was performed in 150 children with 110 cases (73.33 %) of calcifications ; 62 cases (41.33 %) of optic nerve invasion ; 24 cases (16 %) of extraocular muscle invasion and 18 cases (12 %) endocranial extension. Associated tumors were found on CT: 2 cases of suprasellar mass and 1 case of pineoblastoma. In patients whose specimens were analyzed, histology showed 48.15 % optic nerve invasion, consistent with the CT findings. DISCUSSION: CT has an important role in the diagnosis of retinoblastoma, despite its recent contraindication in bilateral and unilateral multinodular forms. CONCLUSION: CT is a good alternative to MRI in the diagnosis of retinoblastoma in developing countries with limited technological resources.
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Técnicas de Diagnóstico Oftalmológico , Monitoreo Fisiológico/métodos , Neoplasias de la Retina/diagnóstico , Retinoblastoma/diagnóstico , Tomografía Computarizada por Rayos X , Niño , Preescolar , Técnicas de Diagnóstico Oftalmológico/estadística & datos numéricos , Femenino , Humanos , Lactante , Imagen por Resonancia Magnética/estadística & datos numéricos , Masculino , Monitoreo Fisiológico/estadística & datos numéricos , Valor Predictivo de las Pruebas , Neoplasias de la Retina/epidemiología , Neoplasias de la Retina/patología , Retinoblastoma/epidemiología , Retinoblastoma/patología , Estudios Retrospectivos , Senegal/epidemiología , Tomografía Computarizada por Rayos X/estadística & datos numéricosRESUMEN
INTRODUCTION: Ametropia is common in children and cause strabismus and amblyopia. The goal was to establish its prevalence in a hospital setting among Senegalese children. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This was a retrospective study of patients under 15 years of age with clear ocular media. The marital status, circumstances of discovery, and results of cycloplegic refraction were recorded. RESULTS: Of 1506 children, 175 demonstrated ametropia. The mean age was 8 years, and the male : female ratio was 0.68. Family history of ametropia was present in 8.5 %. Decreased VA was present in 39.66 %, headache 10.06 %, and strabismus 4.47 %. Automated refraction in 109 patients and skiascopy in one patient showed 58.18 % cases of myopia, 18.18 % of hyperopia and 36.57 % of astigmatism. DISCUSSION: The most common ametropia was myopia. Patients were referred for symptomatic ametropia. CONCLUSION: Screening for ametropia might occur earlier if it is associated with pediatric monitoring in our regions.
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Errores de Refracción/epidemiología , Adolescente , Niño , Preescolar , Femenino , Hospitales , Humanos , Lactante , Masculino , Prevalencia , Estudios Retrospectivos , Senegal/epidemiologíaRESUMEN
PURPOSE: To appreciate the epidemiological characteristics and to show the therapeutic aspects of the giant retinal tears. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study from January 2014 to June 2017 on subjects with giant retinal tears. Patients with media opacities limiting examination were excluded. RESULTS: We identified 17 cases of giant retinal tears. The frequency of detachments related to a giant retinal tear was 17% compared to all retinal tears. The mean age was 50.75 years with a sex ratio (M/F) of 6.5. We found three cases of high myopia, one case of hyperopia and four trauma cases. All patients had a decrease in visual acuity. The average time to consultation was four weeks. The mean intraocular pressure was 8mmHg. The tear was found in the left eye in eight cases and in the right eye in five cases; two cases were bilateral. We performed intraocular surgery in five eyes and laser in four eyes. We achieved anatomical reattachment and functional improvement in all operated patients. COMMENTS AND CONCLUSION: The prognosis of a giant retinal tear remains guarded, especially if patients are seen and treated late. Laser photocoagulation of giant tears remains effective, especially in cases of early diagnosis.
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Perforaciones de la Retina/epidemiología , Perforaciones de la Retina/terapia , Adulto , Femenino , Humanos , Incidencia , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Pronóstico , Desprendimiento de Retina/diagnóstico , Desprendimiento de Retina/epidemiología , Desprendimiento de Retina/terapia , Perforaciones de la Retina/diagnóstico , Perforaciones de la Retina/patología , Estudios Retrospectivos , Senegal/epidemiología , Índice de Severidad de la Enfermedad , Agudeza Visual , Vitrectomía/estadística & datos numéricosRESUMEN
INTRODUCTION: Our goal was to evaluate the normal macular thickness in Blacks by OCT and to determine socio-demographic and clinical parameters which may influence it. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a multicenter, prospective, descriptive study over 6 months. It included Black adults followed in the ophthalmology departments of Abass Ndao and Aristide-Le-Dantec hospitals in Dakar. Included subjects had corrected visual acuity of 10/10 (0 logMAR) and P2 (+0.1 logMAR), clear ocular media, and no retinal abnormalities. We used the Topcon 3D 2000 OCT to measure the central thicknesses of the cornea (CT) and of the macula (MT), and cup to disc ratio (C/D) in each eye. Socio-demographic, clinical and tomographic data were collected on a survey form and correlated to the MT. The analysis was carried out by the Epi info 7 software. We used the Chi2 comparison test with a P valueË0.05. RESULTS: One hundred and nine patients were included. The mean age was 27.39 years with a male/female ratio of 0.65. The subjects were emmetropic in 54.13% of cases. The mean CT was 519.97µm, the mean C/D was 0.23, and the mean MT was 264.35µm. The P-value (P) was greater than or equal to 0.1 for all the factors studied. CONCLUSION: MT in our study was lower than that of Whites, and the various parameters studied did not demonstrate a statistically significant influence on MT.
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Mácula Lútea/diagnóstico por imagen , Tomografía de Coherencia Óptica , Adolescente , Adulto , Población Negra/estadística & datos numéricos , Estudios Transversales , Femenino , Humanos , Mácula Lútea/patología , Masculino , Tamaño de los Órganos , Senegal/epidemiología , Factores Socioeconómicos , Adulto JovenRESUMEN
INTRODUCTION: In Senegal, 10% of the population are said to be carriers of hemoglobin S, the most widespread hemoglobinopathy in the world. It is responsible for potentially blinding ophthalmological manifestations. Few practitioners refer patients for ophthalmologic screening. The goal of our study was to assess the level of knowledge of practitioners of the blinding ocular lesions of sickle cell disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional prospective study was carried out over five months. It included Dakar university hospital practitioners aside from ophthalmologists. On the survey form, each practitioner specified his or her specialty and responded to eight questions regarding sickle cell patients seen in consultation, knowledge of the blinding lesions related to the disease, and ocular monitoring for blinding systemic diseases. The practitioners were divided into three groups: department of medicine and medical specialties (group I), surgery and surgical specialties (group II), and biology and functional testing (group III). The descriptive analysis was done with the EPI-INFO software version 6.04. RESULTS: The participation rate was 45.88%. Group I represented 45.29% of the sample, Group II 35.85% and Group III 18.86%. In all, 87.73% of practitioners saw sickle cell patients in consultation, 75.47% were aware of ocular involvement related to sickle cell disease, and 58.49% were aware of blinding lesions. 94.62% of practitioners saw sickle cell disease patients without systematically recommending ophthalmological consultation. CONCLUSION: Practitioners' level of knowledge of the blinding ocular lesions of sickle cell disease is considered to be low.
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Anemia de Células Falciformes/complicaciones , Ceguera/etiología , Percepción , Médicos , Anemia de Células Falciformes/epidemiología , Anemia de Células Falciformes/psicología , Actitud del Personal de Salud , Ceguera/epidemiología , Ceguera/psicología , Estudios Transversales , Hospitales Universitarios , Humanos , Médicos/psicología , Médicos/estadística & datos numéricos , Senegal/epidemiologíaRESUMEN
INTRODUCTION: Our goal is to assess the Quality of Life (QL) of our patients after cataract surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a multicenter prospective study from July 2012 to December 2013 including patients undergoing cataract surgery, aged 18 and older. A survey sheet with sociodemographic data, clinical data and QL survey (VF-14) was given to each patient after surgery at day 7 (D7), one month (M1) and two months (M2) postoperatively. The final score was obtained by the following formula: QL=V (%)=(F __/__ C)×25. The data analysis was performed using SPSS software. RESULTS: A total of 100 patients were included, 56 men, and 61 years was the mean age. The mean QL score was 29.86% at D7, 73.97% at M1 and 81.21% at M2. Subjects between 18 and 30 years of age had a score of 90.15% vs. 82.52% at M2 for older patients. After optical correction, the quality of life scores increased from 83.22% at D7 to 93.18% at M2. Patients who did not have functional signs had a QL score of 83.94%. Anxious patients had a QL score of 44% at D7, 61.23% at M1 and 52.67% at M2. CONCLUSION: Good surgical outcomes require, in addition to clinical success, good quality of life. Several factors may influence this quality of life.
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Extracción de Catarata/rehabilitación , Calidad de Vida , Adulto , Anciano , Anciano de 80 o más Años , Extracción de Catarata/psicología , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Periodo Posoperatorio , Encuestas y Cuestionarios , Visión Ocular/fisiología , Agudeza Visual/fisiologíaRESUMEN
PURPOSE: The purpose was to record the causes of leukocoria among children under 10years of age and to determine the proportion of rare causes of leukocoria. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This retrospective study was conducted over a period of ten years, from January 1, 2004 to December 31, 2013, in patients under 10years of age who were referred for leukocoria. RESULTS: Leukocoria represented one of the ten reasons for consultation among children under 10years of age. The mean age of our patients was 42.5months. In 76 % of cases, the leukocoria patients were children under 6years of age. Male patients were affected more commonly, with a sex-ratio of 1.5. Patients coming from Dakar and its suburbs represented two thirds of the total. Bilateral involvement represented 53.7 % of the total. Cataracts were responsible for 74.3 % of cases, retinoblastoma 20.58 %, retinal detachment 0.96 %, retinopathy of prematurity 0.96 %, pupillary membrane persistence 0.96 %, persistent hyperplastic primary vitreous 0.64 %, endophthalmitis 0.64 %, optic nerve coloboma 0.32 %, iris heterochromia 0.32 % and ametropia 0.32 %. DISCUSSION: The total percentage of rare causes was 5.12 % in our study, including one case of hyperopia. These etiologies, although rare, do exist. CONCLUSION: Rare causes of leukocoria require special attention. The discovery of leukocoria necessitates rigorous etiological work-up. Ametropia must be a diagnosis of exclusion.
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Trastornos de la Pupila/diagnóstico , Trastornos de la Pupila/epidemiología , Trastornos de la Pupila/etiología , Catarata/complicaciones , Catarata/diagnóstico , Catarata/epidemiología , Niño , Preescolar , Diagnóstico Diferencial , Femenino , Humanos , Incidencia , Lactante , Enfermedades del Iris/diagnóstico , Enfermedades del Iris/epidemiología , Masculino , Vítreo Primario Hiperplásico Persistente/complicaciones , Vítreo Primario Hiperplásico Persistente/diagnóstico , Vítreo Primario Hiperplásico Persistente/epidemiología , Trastornos de la Pigmentación/diagnóstico , Trastornos de la Pigmentación/epidemiología , Neoplasias de la Retina/complicaciones , Neoplasias de la Retina/diagnóstico , Neoplasias de la Retina/epidemiología , Retinoblastoma/complicaciones , Retinoblastoma/diagnóstico , Retinoblastoma/epidemiología , Estudios RetrospectivosRESUMEN
PURPOSE: To study the epidemiological and clinical aspects of acute enteroviral and adenoviral conjunctivitis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A prospective study was conducted between January 1st and October 31st, 2015, jointly between two Ophthalmology services and a virology laboratory, which identified 51 patients. Were included all patients who presented a painful red eye without loss of visual acuity associated with secretions,evolving for less than 4weeks RESULTS: The mean age was 32 years, and the sex ratio 1:1. Over half of our patients (61%) came from populous districts. A history of the virus "going around" was reported by 30 patients (59% of cases). Virological testing was positive in 35 patients (68.7% of cases). Over 90% of samples collected during the first week of clinical signs were positive. CONCLUSION: Viral conjunctivitis is a contagious condition, the spread of which is favored by promiscuity. Adenovirus and enterovirus are the main causative agents. They are present on an endemic scale in Senegal; thus, the need for better epidemiological surveillance in order to limit spread.
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Conjuntivitis Viral/epidemiología , Conjuntivitis Viral/patología , Enfermedad Aguda , Infecciones por Adenovirus Humanos/epidemiología , Infecciones por Adenovirus Humanos/patología , Adolescente , Adulto , Anciano , Niño , Preescolar , Conjuntivitis Viral/virología , Diagnóstico Tardío/estadística & datos numéricos , Infecciones por Enterovirus/epidemiología , Infecciones por Enterovirus/patología , Femenino , Humanos , Lactante , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Senegal/epidemiología , Tiempo de Tratamiento , Virología/métodos , Adulto JovenRESUMEN
PURPOSE: To report the clinical investigation of isolated microspherophakia involving a Senegalese family in order to appreciate its functional impact. OBSERVATIONS: This is a rural family comprised of 7 members. The sibship included three girls and two boys. One of the girls, who lived in a distant zone, was unable to be examined. Of all the examined members of the family, only the father was unaffected by the illness. There was no consanguinity. The general medical examination was normal. The best-corrected visual acuity (VA) for the girls was 2/10. For one of the boys, BCVA was 8/10 for both eyes, and for the other, BCVA was 10/10 for the right eye and 8/10 for the left eye. The mother's VA was 10/10 and P2 without correction. Myopia and astigmatism were present in the 4 children of the sibship. During the examination, we noted the presence of small crystalline lenses, which were very round and presented an abnormal visibility of the lens equator and zonular fibers. The diagnosis of microspherophakia was confirmed by measurement of the lens diameters by ultrasound biomicroscopy. Complications were present in the girls, including pupillary block glaucoma and amblyopia for the elder, and retinal degeneration and amblyopia for the younger daughter. The elder daughter was managed medically with glaucoma drops. The younger daughter received optical correction and a prophylactic Argon LASER treatment. The two boys received optical correction. No treatment was recommended for the mother. CONCLUSION: Microspherophakia is a rare condition. Some serious complications can lead to amblyopia. A better multidisciplinary evaluation would allow for early detection and a better prognosis.
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Enfermedades de la Córnea/patología , Desplazamiento del Cristalino/patología , Glaucoma/patología , Iris/anomalías , Adolescente , Adulto , Niño , Enfermedades de la Córnea/genética , Desplazamiento del Cristalino/genética , Familia , Femenino , Glaucoma/genética , Humanos , Iris/patología , Masculino , SenegalRESUMEN
In developing countries where systemic antifungal are often unavailable, treatment of filamentous fungi infection as Fusarium is sometimes very difficult to treat. We report the case of a keratomycosis due to Fusarium oxysporum treated by povidone iodine eye drops and oral fluconazole. The diagnosis of abscess in the cornea was retained after ophthalmological examination for a 28-year-old man with no previous ophthalmological disease, addressed to the Ophthalmological clinic at the University Hospital Le Dantec in Dakar for a left painful red eye with decreased visual acuity lasting for 15 days. The patient did not receive any foreign body into the eye. Samples by corneal scraping were made for microbiological analysis and the patient was hospitalized and treated with a reinforced eye drops based treatment (ceftriaxone+gentamicin). The mycological diagnosis revealed the presence of a mold: F. oxysporum, which motivated the replacement of the initial treatment by eye drops containing iodized povidone solution at 1% because of the amphotericin B unavailability. Due to the threat of visual loss, oral fluconazole was added to the local treatment with eye drops povidone iodine. The outcome was favorable with a healing abscess and visual acuity amounted to 1/200th. Furthermore, we noted sequels such as pannus and pillowcase. The vulgarization of efficient topical antifungal in developing countries would be necessary to optimize fungal infection treatment.
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Úlcera de la Córnea/tratamiento farmacológico , Infecciones Fúngicas del Ojo/tratamiento farmacológico , Fluconazol/administración & dosificación , Fusarium/aislamiento & purificación , Povidona Yodada/administración & dosificación , Administración Oral , Adulto , Úlcera de la Córnea/microbiología , Quimioterapia Combinada , Infecciones Fúngicas del Ojo/microbiología , Fusarium/fisiología , Humanos , Masculino , Soluciones OftálmicasRESUMEN
PURPOSE: To evaluate the type and frequency of the ocular lesions found in patients practicing artificial depigmentation. PATIENTS AND METHOD: We conducted a prospective study over 3 months involving 108 patients, of whom 72 underwent depigmentation, and 36 did not, representing the controls. RESULTS: Among patients undergoing depigmentation, 100% were female, of whom 34.72% developed ocular lesions. Exogenous ochronosis lesions of the eyelid predominated (34.72%), followed by ocular ochronosis (25.81%). Cataract (19.35%) and glaucoma (6.45%) were the least frequent. Among the untreated, only 19.44% had ocular lesions. These included cataract (57.14%) and glaucoma (42.86%). Ocular lesions were more frequent in patients using products containing hydroquinone. CONCLUSION: Artificial depigmentation is responsible for ocular lesions of variable severity. Our study highlights the importance of the raising awareness amongst the general population of the complications of artificial depigmentation, particularly the ocular lesions.
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Oftalmopatías/inducido químicamente , Enfermedades de los Párpados/inducido químicamente , Ocronosis/inducido químicamente , Preparaciones para Aclaramiento de la Piel/efectos adversos , Corticoesteroides/efectos adversos , Adulto , Factores de Edad , Estudios de Casos y Controles , Catarata/inducido químicamente , Catarata/diagnóstico , Oftalmopatías/diagnóstico , Enfermedades de los Párpados/diagnóstico , Femenino , Glaucoma/inducido químicamente , Glaucoma/diagnóstico , Humanos , Hidroquinonas/efectos adversos , Persona de Mediana Edad , Ocronosis/diagnóstico , SenegalRESUMEN
INTRODUCTION: Cycloplegia allows for an objective refraction in children. Atropine is the gold standard but causes prolonged blurred vision. Cyclopentolate is less effective but less disabling. Tropicamide is a weak cycloplegic. The purpose of this study was to evaluate a cyclopentolate and tropicamide combination (CTA) versus atropine for refraction in black children. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a prospective study between October 2011 and July 2012 on all children seen in consultation. Objective refraction was performed after cycloplegia with cyclopentolate 0.5% combined with tropicamide 0.5%, and then after cycloplegia with atropine. RESULTS: Thirty-three patients were recruited, 14 boys and 19 girls. The average age was 9.9 years. The mean age of the patients was 9.9 years. Astigmatism was found in 96.9% of cases. It was 1.34±1.32 diopters with CTA and 1.35±1.22 diopters with atropine. The mean axis was 98.15 and 99.8, respectively. Hyperopia and myopia were found in 39 and 27 eyes, respectively with ACT (average 1.73 and 5.37 diopters), and in 41 and 19 eyes with atropine (average 2.06 and 6.11 diopters). DISCUSSION: There is a good correlation of results with regards to cylindrical and spherical refractive error between the two protocols. Atropine is the best cycloplegic, however ACT provides reliable results. CONCLUSION: The cyclopentolate-tropicamide combination is satisfactory for routine cycloplegia in children.
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Ciclopentolato/uso terapéutico , Midriáticos/uso terapéutico , Errores de Refracción/tratamiento farmacológico , Tropicamida/uso terapéutico , Adolescente , Atropina/uso terapéutico , Población Negra , Niño , Preescolar , Quimioterapia Combinada , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Estudios ProspectivosRESUMEN
INTRODUCTION: Retinoblastoma is a malignant tumor arising from retinal stem cells or retinoblasts. Its management has been well determined. The goal of this study is to report preliminary results obtained with combined chemotherapy and surgical treatment. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Our transverse prospective study includes retinoblastomas diagnosed and treated on our service from January 2006 to December 2010. Fundus examination under general anesthesia and radiological examination, orbital/brain CT or if unavailable, ultrasound, were systematically performed. MRI was able to be obtained in one case. The patients received 6 courses of chemotherapy (vincristin-carboplatin-etoposide or vincristin-cyclophosphamide), including 2 preoperative courses and 4 postoperative courses. A surgical procedure (enucleation or exenteration) supplemented the treatment, followed by histologic analysis of the specimen. External radiation therapy and conservative management were not available. RESULTS: Fifty-nine patients were treated. Median age at time of diagnosis was 9months (range 2months to 7years); the gender ratio was 1.18. Tumors were bilateral in 12 cases and unilateral in 47 cases, intraocular in 34 cases and extraocular in 25 cases. Optic nerve involvement was confirmed by histology in 12 cases. Twenty-one patients died from recurrence and/or metastatic disease, or during chemotherapy. Seven were lost to follow-up, and 31 have survived uneventfully. DISCUSSION: Improvement of mortality is still our major concern. Radiation therapy is essential in the presence of optic nerve involvement. CONCLUSION: Long-term survival will determine the efficacy of this form of management. The contribution of new therapeutic means will improve these results.
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Neoplasias de la Retina/terapia , Retinoblastoma/terapia , Protocolos de Quimioterapia Combinada Antineoplásica/uso terapéutico , Niño , Preescolar , Terapia Combinada , Progresión de la Enfermedad , Femenino , Humanos , Lactante , Estudios Longitudinales , Masculino , Neoplasias de la Retina/complicaciones , Neoplasias de la Retina/epidemiología , Neoplasias de la Retina/patología , Retinoblastoma/complicaciones , Retinoblastoma/epidemiología , Retinoblastoma/patología , Estudios Retrospectivos , Senegal/epidemiologíaRESUMEN
PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy of intratarsal triamcinolone acetonide (TA) injection versus dexamethasone ointment in the treatment of refractory chronic tropical endemic limboconjunctivitis (TELC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: This one-year prospective study enrolled 20 patients with refractory TELC. One millilitre containing 40 mg TA was injected intratarsally on the most affected eye and dexamethasone ointment applied in the fellow eye. Efficacy was judged by clinical criteria according to a specially designed scale for the study. Statistical analysis was carried out using Fisher's chi(2) test and Student's t test with comparisons of the means of paired samples. RESULTS: In both cases, symptoms improved in all patients, as early as the following day or week, and clinical signs improved from the second week through the first month after injection, with an effective dose of 1 mL TA and three weeks of dexamethasone, with no recurrence at three months. Efficacy of the ointment alone was less (33.3-75%) than that with injection (90.9-100%) and could only be maintained after the first month by repeated application. CONCLUSION: Intratarsal TA injection, relatively easy and well-tolerated by patients, may be a better alternative to dexamethasone ointment in the treatment of refractory TELC.