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Sinonasal undifferentiated carcinoma (SNUC) is an extremely aggressive malignancy. Extension to the orbit and adjacent structures is common, but isolated visual loss as a presenting symptom is rare. We report a rare case of SNUC with bilateral visual loss as the initial manifestation. A 34-year-old gentleman was presented with acute onset loss of vision in both eyes for one week. It was followed by recurrent headaches and epistaxis. Visual acuity in the right eye was 2/60 and 3/60 in the left eye. Funduscopy showed a bilateral swollen disc. Neuroimaging revealed a large mass in the ethmoidal sinus extended laterally causing compression to recti muscles and the optic nerves. The histopathological examination of nasal tissue biopsy showed features of SNUC with bone and perineural invasion. A diagnosis of SNUC with bilateral compressive optic neuropathy was established. The patient underwent tumor debulking and base of skull reconstruction by the neurosurgical team. This was then followed by chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The patient's right eye visual acuity initially improved to 6/9. However, his both eye vision developed into no light perception during treatment. In conclusion, SNUC is a highly aggressive tumor that may present with acute blindness. Early treatment may save a life, but the visual prognosis is guarded due to extensive optic nerve damage caused by tumor compression.
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Introduction: Overexpression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and p53 are the postulated aetiopathogenesis in pterygium. VEGF is responsible for the induction of COX-2 expression, whereas p53 plays an important role in the regulation of VEGF. This study aimed to evaluate the immunohistochemistry of COX-2 and p53 expressions from excised pterygium tissue from patients who received intralesional ranibizumab (anti-VEGF) injection 2 weeks prior to pterygium surgery. Materials and Methods: An interventional comparative study involving patients presenting with primary pterygium was conducted between September 2015 and November 2017. The patients were randomized into either the intervention or control group. Patients in the intervention group were injected with intralesional ranibizumab (0.5 mg/0.05 ml) 2 weeks prior to surgery. Both groups underwent pterygium excision followed by conjunctival autograft. Immunohistochemistry staining was performed to evaluate COX-2 and p53 expressions in the excised pterygium tissue. Results: A total of 50 patients (25 in both the intervention and control groups) were recruited. There were 34 (68%) patients with grade III pterygium and 16 (32%) patients with grade IV pterygium. There was statistically significant difference in reduction of COX-2 expression in the epithelial layer [84.0% (95% CI: 63.9, 95.5)] (p = 0.007) and stromal layer [84.0% (95% CI: 63.9, 95.5)] (p < 0.001) between intervention and control groups. There was no significant difference in the reduction of p53 expression between the two groups. Conclusion: This study demonstrated the possible use of intralesional anti-VEGF treatment prior to pterygium excision as a potential future modality of adjunctive therapy for pterygium surgery.
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A diver presented with total loss of vision in the left eye and right hemiparesis following a routine no-stop scuba dive to 20 metres' depth. A diagnosis of decompression illness (DCI) with acute ophthalmic artery air embolism and left carotid artery insult causing acute anterior circulatory ischaemia was made. He underwent seven hyperbaric treatments leading to a full recovery. Magnetic resonance angiography revealed an underlying left anterior cerebral artery A1 segment hypoplasia. Making a prompt diagnosis and early hyperbaric oxygen treatment are crucial to halt further tissue damage from ischaemia in central nervous system DCI. In this case, the finding of a left A1 anterior cerebral artery segment hypoplasia variant may have increased the severity of DCI due to deficient collateral circulation.