SCHWANNOMA TONGUE: TWO CASE REPORTS

Schwannoma of the tongue is a relatively rare tumor of the head and neck. Intraoral schwannoma accounts for 1% of head and neck region and are commonly seen at the base of tongue. In this article we report two cases of schwannoma in young adult presented with painless swelling of the tongue. Lesion was completely excised via an intraoral approach and confirmed as schwannoma tongue in histopathology.

Influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 cases in sub‑Himalayan region, 2014–2015 India.

Current influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 strain severely involved many parts of the country. The study was conducted to analyze the clinicoepidemiological trend of influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 cases from October 2014 to March 2015. Samples processing was done as per the Center for Disease Control guidelines. A total of 333 specimens were processed out of which influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 constituted 24% (81) of total, 5% (18) cases were seasonal influenza A virus strains. Mean age group involved was 49 years with case fatality rate of 20%. Patients died were 63% males and 44% had comorbidities, and among them, 38% patients died within 24 h of hospitalization. The mean age of comorbid patients who died was 59 years; whereas the mean age of patients died having no co‑morbidities was 41 years (P < 0.005). Mortality was seen among 81% (13) of patients who were on ventilator support. Added mortality in specific human group demands continuous surveillance monitoring followed by the detection of mutation, even in susceptible animal population.

Controversies in neuro-ophthalmology: Steroid therapy for traumatic optic neuropathy.

Background: There is an increase in the incidence of traumatic optic neuropathy (TON) due to increasing urbanization and rapid spurt in the number of motor vehicles on the road. Despite early presentation and ease of diagnosis the visual outcomes in TON are still limited. There is also significant confusion about the timing, dose and efficacy of steroid treatment in its management. Purpose: To provide a clinical update of the pros and cons of steroid therapy for TON. Design: The paper is a retrospective review of the currently available literature in the English language indexed in PubMed. Methods: A PubMed search was conducted by the authors using the following terms: Traumatic optic neuropathy, megadose, steroids, methylprednisolone. Relevant original articles, review articles, and case reports related to the topic of discussion were evaluated and discussed in the paper. Results: There is no prospective randomized control trial evaluating the effect of steroids in TON. There are varying reports on the effect of steroid therapy from significant improvement to no difference compared to observation. Conclusion: The decision to give steroids to patients with TON has to be on an individual case to case basis and must involve informed consent from the patient. There are documented advantages and disadvantages of steroid therapy and a prospective, randomized, controlled trial is necessary comparing steroids, surgery and observation before definitive management can be evolved.

Factors predicting recurrence in successfully treated cases of anisometropic amblyopia.

Context: Recurrence after successful treatment of amblyopia is known and understanding the risk factors could help effective management. Aim: To measure incidence of recurrence in successfully treated cases of anisometropic amblyopia and evaluate factors predicting it. Settings and Design: Cohort Study at a tertiary level institution. Materials and Methods: Successfully treated anisometropic amblyopes aged 4−12 years were followed up for 1 year after stopping therapy. Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), refractive error, stereoacuity and contrast sensitivity were evaluated at baseline and follow‑up. Statistical Analysis: Intergroup analysis with appropriate tests: Chi‑square test, Fisher’s exact test, Wilcoxon rank sum test and paired t‑test. Results: One hundred and two patients with mean age at diagnosis 7.06 ± 1.81 years were followed‑up for a mean duration of 1.0 ± 0.2 years. The mean pre‑treatment BCVA (LogMAR score) at diagnosis was 0.73 ± 0.36 units which improved to 0.20 ± 0.00 with treatment and after 1 year of stopping treatment was 0.22 ± 0.07. Thirteen (12.74%) patients showed amblyopia recurrence during follow‑up. Risk of recurrence was higher with older age of onset of treatment (6.64 ± 1.77 years without recurrence v/s 8.53 ± 1.39 years with recurrence, P = 0.0014). Greater extent of improvement of VA (P = 0.048) and final VA at stopping occlusion (P = 0.03) were associated with higher recurrence. Binocularity status or stereoacuity changes were not associated with risk of recurrence. Conclusions: Significant numbers of children suffer recurrence of amblyopia after stopping therapy. Older age, better BCVA after stopping therapy and greater magnitude of improvement in BCVA are important risk factors for recurrence. Careful follow‑up is essential for early detection and management of recurrence.

Evaluation of changes in retinal nerve fiber layer thickness and visual functions in cases of optic neuritis and multiple sclerosis.

Context: Retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thinning has been demonstrated in cases of optic neuritis (ON) and multiple sclerosis (MS) in Caucasian eyes, but no definite RNFL loss pattern or association with visual functions is known in Indian eyes. Aim: To evaluate RNFL thickness in cases of ON and MS, and to correlate it with visual function changes in Indian patients. Settings and Design: Cross‑sectional case‑control study at a tertiary level institution. Materials and Methods: Cases consisted of patients of (i) typical ON without a recent episode (n = 30:39 ON eyes and 21 fellow eyes), (ii) MS without ON (n = 15;30 eyes) while the controls were age‑matched (n = 15; 30 eyes). RNFL thickness was measured using the Stratus 3°CT. The visual functions tested included the best‑corrected visual acuity (BCVA), contrast sensitivity, stereopsis, visual evoked responses, and visual fields. Statistical analysis used: Intergroup analysis was done using ANOVA and Pearson’s correlation coefficient used for associations. Results: RNFL thickness was reduced significantly in the ON and MS patients compared to the controls (P‑0.001). Maximum loss is in the temporal quadrant. Lower visual function scores are associated with reduced average overall RNFL thickness. In ON group, RNFL thinning is associated with severe visual field defects while contrast sensitivity has strongest correlation with RNFL in the MS group. Conclusions: RNFL thickness is reduced in ON and MS cases in a pattern similar to Caucasians and is associated with the magnitude of impairment of other visual parameters. Contrast sensitivity and stereoacuity are useful tests to identify subclinical optic nerve involvement in multiple sclerosis.

Determinants of severity at presentation among young patients with early onset glaucoma.

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical, socio‑economic, and demographic factors associated with the severity at presentation among juvenile primary open angle glaucoma (JOAG) patients. Materials and Methods: Age at diagnosis, family history, baseline intraocular pressure (IOP), access to health‑care, socio‑economic status, and glaucoma awareness among 80 unrelated JOAG patients presenting between 10 years and 40 years of age were analyzed for their association with the severity at presentation. Severity at presentation was graded based on worse eye visual field using the advanced glaucoma intervention study score and on binocular visual field defects at presentation. Results: Patients with a positive family history presented 4 years earlier (P = 0.045, confidence interval [CI]: 0.09‑8.8) compared to those without a family history. Lower socio‑economic status (Odds ratio [OR] 5.7, P = 0.01, CI: 1.5‑22), and higher baseline IOP (OR 7, P = 0.003, CI: 1.9‑26) were associated with severe glaucomatous visual field defect at presentation. A negative family history was associated with a 10 times likelihood of presenting with a severe glaucomatous field defect (OR 0.1, P = 0.007, CI: 0‑0.5). Conclusions: Clinical, socio‑economic, and demographic factors are contributory to the severity at presentation among young patients with early onset glaucoma. Presence of a family history is associated with an earlier presentation among these patients and a reduced risk of the severe presentation