Surgical removal of subfoveal choroidal neovascularization: visual outcome and prognostic value of fluorescein angiography and optical coherence tomography.

PURPOSE: To study the functional results of macular surgery and determine pre-operative features associated with better final visual outcome. METHODS: Forty-two consecutive patients underwent surgical removal of subfoveal choroidal neovascularization (CNV), related to age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in 8 eyes, degenerative myopia in 14 eyes, multifocal choroiditis (MFC) in 10 eyes, idiopathic CNV in 6 eyes and other etiologies in 4 eyes. Mean age was 49 years. Pre-operative visual acuity (VA) was 20/200 or less in 30 eyes (71.4%) and never better than 20/40. Fluorescein angiography was analyzed before and after surgery. Pre-operative optical coherence tomographs (OCT) were studied in a masked fashion. Mean follow-up was 12 months (range 4-48 months). RESULTS: Final VA was 20/200 or less in 25 eyes (60%). According to the CNV etiology, the percentage were 87.5%, 80%, 57.1% and 20% respectively in eyes with AMD, MFC, high myopia, and idiopathic or other diseases. Post-operative VA improved in 21 eyes (50%) but subsequently declined in 7% by the final examination. Patients younger than 50 years had better functional results (p=0.006). Lack of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) changes on pre-operative angiography was correlated with good visual outcome (p<0.001). The OCT study confirmed some features already described and showed some different CNVpatterns: above and usually separated from the RPE, below and not separated from the RPE, and ungradable. Eyes with the first OCT pattern had the best visual outcome. Main complications included 4 (10%) retinal detachments and 9 (21%) recurrences. OCT was also useful to confirm CNV recurrences post-operatively. CONCLUSIONS: CNV surgical excision results vary depending on the underlying disease, the RPE and choriocapillaris function, and the features observed on pre-operative OCT images.

Multiple choroidal neovascularizations at the border of a myopic posterior macular staphyloma.

BACKGROUND: In pathologic myopia, choroidal neovascularization (CNV) usually occurs in macular region and at the center of the macular staphyloma. CNV has been reported to occur at the borders of an inferior posterior staphyloma in the tilted disc syndrome. We present a case of multiple simultaneous CNVs located at the borders of a myopic macular staphyloma. METHODS: The clinical and angiographic records of a myopic patient who presented several areas of choroidal neovascularization were reviewed. RESULTS: On fundus examination, four gray lesions surrounded by subretinal hemorrhages and covered by a large serous retinal detachment were observed at the borders of a posterior staphyloma. Fluorescein angiography revealed that these four lesions were CNVs extending from the borders of the staphyloma to the macular region. As measured by B-scan ultrasonography, the staphyloma was 4 mm deep. CONCLUSION: This case supports the hypothesis that the borders of staphylomas are sites at risk for the development of CNV in pathologic myopia.

[Sarcoid optic neuropathy]. / Neuropathie optique sarcoïdosique.

Sarcoidosis is a multisystem granulomatous disease mostly involving the chest. Sarcoid optic neuropathy is an uncommon but serious manifestation that requires long-term corticosteroid treatment. We report here the case of a 50-year-old black patient complaining of a recent blurred vision on his left eye. The ophthalmologic examination was normal. Goldmann visual field and visual evoked potentials confirmed the diagnosis of retrobulbar optic neuropathy. Sarcoidosis was presumed on a chest radiography and computed tomography and confirmed with a transbronchial biopsy. Symptoms disappeared with intravenous bolus of corticosteroids. Three months later, without treatment, a right inferior eyelid tumor was observed. Magnetic resonance imaging (RMI) showed two orbital masses and multiple meningeal lesions enhancing with contrast suggesting neurosarcoidosis which decreased with a long-term high-dose corticosteroid therapy (1 mg/kg/d). Optic neuropathy is a rare manifestation of neurosarcoidosis, mostly accompanied by optic-disc involvement with papillary lesions. Chest roentgenogram and computed tomography give a presumption of sarcoidosis. But biopsy is mandatory to confirm the diagnosis demonstrating the histologic lesion of a non caseating granulomatous. Corticosteroid therapy is dramatically efficient but sometimes several months treatment is required.

[Actinic keratosis of the conjunctiva. Apropos of a clinical case]. / Kératose actinique de la conjonctive. A propos d'un cas anatomo-clinique.

We report a slowly progressive and whitish limbal conjunctival tumor that occurred in a 73-year-old man. An excisional biopsy specimen of this conjunctival tumor was submitted for histopathologic evaluation. The diagnosis of conjunctival actinic keratosis was based on following cellular abnormalities: epithelial hyperplasia acanthosis, keratosis or parakeratosis with discrete papillomatosis and some atypia. The basement membrane was intact. An area of elastotic degeneration in the subtantia propria, was considered as one of the characteristic features of this conjunctival precancerous condition related to excessive sun exposure. By hybridization in situ, the detection of human papilloma virus (HPV) was negative. Keratosis actinic needs to be distinguished from other precancerous conditions showing similar clinical features such as dysplasia and carcinoma in situ appearing to affect the prognosis.

[Orbital dermoid cysts. Apropos of a case]. / Kystes dermoïdes orbitaires. A propos d'un cas.

We report the case of a 53 year-old female patient with an orbital dermoid cyst. A mass effect with proptosis, hypotropia and choroidal folds was noted. Imaging aspects (radiography, ultrasonography and computed tomography) were highly suggestive of a deep orbital dermoid cyst. A fronto-temporal neuro-surgical approach allowed complete removal of the tumour. Histopathology confirmed the diagnosis of dermoid cyst. The incidence of orbital dermoid cyst falls significantly after the second decade of life thus making our clinical case original.