ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To describe the clinical features, histopathological findings, and prognosis of conjunctival Teddy bear granuloma (TBG) diagnosed in a Mexican ophthalmologic referral center in a period of 64 years. METHODS: We reviewed clinical and histopathological material from all patients with documented conjunctival TBG. Patient's age, gender, location, clinical signs and symptoms, duration, treatment and, specimen size, were evaluated. Formalin-fixed paraffin embedded 5 microns hematoxylin-eosin stained slides and periodic acid-Schiff special stain as well as examination under polarized light microscopy were performed in all cases. RESULTS: A total of 5 conjunctival TBG were collected. The ages of the patients ranged between 2 and 11 with a mean of 6 years. Female to male ratio was 4:1. The right inferior fornix was involved in 4 cases (80%) with clinical diagnosis of conjunctival mass of unknown etiology. Treatment consisted of surgical removal by slit-lamp biomicroscopy (3 cases) and in the operating room (2 cases). No complications were informed in a short follow-up period. Histopathologically, numerous cross-sections of synthetic and non-synthetic fibers surrounded by multinucleated foreign body giant cells, epithelioid histiocytes, lymphocytes, plasma cells and sparse neutrophils were seen. Polarization light microscopy demonstrated numerous birefringent colorful foreign fibers. The follow-up period of the patients ranged between 1 and 32 weeks with a mean of 10 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: Most patients with TBG are children with vague, non-specific symptoms troubling precise clinical diagnosis. Treatment of choice involves surgical excision of the foreign body granuloma followed by topical corticosteroids. All surgical specimens obtained must be sent for histopathological examination. Special awareness is recommended during COVID-19 pandemic lockdown to prevent potential exposure to fibers that may cause conjunctival TBG.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Conjunctival Diseases , Conjunctivitis , Granuloma, Foreign-Body , Adrenal Cortex Hormones , Child , Child, Preschool , Cicatrix/complications , Communicable Disease Control , Conjunctival Diseases/diagnosis , Conjunctival Diseases/etiology , Conjunctival Diseases/surgery , Eosine Yellowish-(YS) , Female , Formaldehyde , Granuloma, Foreign-Body/diagnosis , Granuloma, Foreign-Body/etiology , Granuloma, Foreign-Body/surgery , Hematoxylin , Humans , Male , Pandemics , Periodic AcidABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Although African Americans and Hispanic/Latinx Americans with multiple sclerosis (MS) frequently cite workplace discrimination as a major concern, the specific nature of this discrimination is not yet well understood. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this studywas to investigate racial/ethnic differences in allegations ofworkplace discrimination by Caucasian, African American, and Hispanic/Latinx American individuals with MS. METHODS: The United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) Integrated Mission System (IMS) databasewas used to describe and compare the frequency and characteristics of discrimination allegations filed by people with MS in the three race/ethnicity groups. Quantitative analyses, including a one-way analysis of variance and Chi-square tests, were used to examine 2009-2016 Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act (ADAAA) Title I complaints. These complaints were received by the EEOC from people with MS who identified themselves as Caucasian, African American, and Hispanic/Latinx American (N=3,770). RESULTS: Both African Americans and Hispanic/Latinx Americans tended to encounter discrimination at a younger age than Caucasian Americans. African American and Hispanic/Latinx American charging parties were more likely to be women than were Caucasian charging parties. The size and location of employers against whom allegations were filed varied significantly among the three racial/ethnic groups. The EEOC was more likely to resolve allegations in the charging parties' favor when the allegations were filed by Caucasians. CONCLUSION: The present study revealed modest but significant differences in the workplace discrimination experiences of the three groups under study. More research is needed to determine why racial/ethnic status bears on the discrimination experiences of Americans with MS.