Orbital Radiotherapy Combined With Corticosteroid Treatment for Thyroid Eye Disease-Compressive Optic Neuropathy.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effectiveness of orbital radiotherapy (ORT) in the treatment of thyroid eye disease (TED)-compressive optic neuropathy. METHODS: A retrospective review of patients with corticosteroid-responsive compressive optic neuropathy due to TED treated with ORT. Study was conducted in compliance with Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. One hundred four patients (163 orbits) with a mean age of 61.7 years met inclusion criteria. Seventy-four percent (77/104) were female, and 32.7% (34/104) were current or previous smokers. A total absorbed dose of 2000 cGy fractionated in 10 treatment doses over the course of 2 weeks was administered to the retroocular tissues according to a standard protocol. The primary end point was failure of ORT, defined as persistent optic neuropathy following completion of radiotherapy that mandated urgent orbital decompression surgery. RESULTS: Ninety-eight of 104 (94%) patients or 152 of 163 (93.3%) orbits did not require orbital decompression surgery during the acute phase. Patients who responded successfully to ORT had similar improvements in visual acuity, color vision, Humphrey threshold visual field testing, and afferent pupillary defects compared with patients who failed ORT and underwent urgent decompression surgery. Only 36.7% of successfully treated patients ultimately underwent elective surgery, including orbital decompression, strabismus, or eyelid surgery, during the inactive phase of TED. CONCLUSIONS: The data from this study, the largest retrospective review reported to date, supports the use of ORT in eyes with corticosteroid-responsive TED-compressive optic neuropathy. ORT may favorably alter the natural history of active-phase TED by preventing recurrent compressive optic neuropathy after withdrawal of corticosteroids.

Metastatic Colon Cancer to the Sphenoid Wing and Ethmoid Sinus Mimicking Orbital Cellulitis: A Rare Presentation.

Metastatic lesions to the orbit are most commonly seen with breast, lung, and prostate cancer, but are less commonly seen with colon cancer. Furthermore, the presence of metastatic colon cancer involving the sphenoid wing has only been reported once previously. The authors present a case of a 68-year-old woman with right upper and lower eyelid edema and erythema along with decreased vision, relative afferent pupillary defect, limitation of extraocular movements, and chemosis suggestive of orbital cellulitis. Imaging revealed an erosive lesion of the sphenoid wing along with unilateral ethmoid sinusitis. Biopsies taken from both lesions revealed metastatic adenocarcinoma, consistent with colonic primary. The extensive inflammatory component of her disease required life-long high-dose steroids to maintain quiescence and preserve vision.

The lateral brow: position in relation to age, gender, and ethnicity.

PURPOSE: Despite multiple studies regarding modes of eyebrow measurement and movement over time, the lateral aspect of the brow has been relatively ignored in the literature. Therefore, we arranged a study of the most lateral aspect of the eyebrow; in doing so, we hoped to ascertain the most practical line or angle of measurement. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, adults age 18 years and older with no history of congenital or acquired periorbital or orbital pathology or surgery, brow tattooing or heavy plucking, phthisis, or strabismus were measured using a combination of in-office metrics and computer analysis. Subjects were asked to identify their ethnicity and country of origin. Models of age, gender, and ethnicity were created. RESULTS: One thousand twenty-four subjects were included (1,944 eyes). Measurements of nasal ala to lateral brow (NALB), lateral brow plumb line (LBPL; the vertical line between the tail of the brow and a horizontal line extending from the lateral canthus), and angle from the midbrow to the lateral brow tail showed statistically significant decline over time. The angle and LBPL varied mostly by ethnicity. The angle narrowed approximately 3° per 20 years, while the LBPL fell approximately 2.5 mm per 20 years. The NALB varied most by age and fell approximately 3 mm per 20 years. CONCLUSIONS: The lateral tail of the brow descends with age. Measurements of its location and rate of change vary between genders and within ethnic groups. Two easily measured values-NALB and LBPL-can be used for preoperative planning and postoperative documentation.

Retained strabismus suture material masquerading as nonspecific orbital inflammation.

We report a case of orbital myositis of the superior rectus muscle-levator complex masquerading as nonspecific orbital inflammation but corresponding in location to a known braided polyester "chicken suture" placed 20 years earlier during strabismus surgery. The orbital inflammation was refractory to oral steroids but resolved promptly on surgical removal of the suture material. Although suture material is known to cause foreign body granulomatous reactions, to our knowledge this is the first reported case of a deep, diffuse orbital inflammation attributable to chicken suture placed during strabismus surgery.