Marginal-zone B-cell lymphoma, extranodal-malt-type: report of three cases.

A high proportion of extranodal lymphoid infiltrates are diffuse small lymphocytic proliferations [1, 2] and therefore pose a particularly challenging diagnostic problem [1-4]. Their benign or malignant nature cannot be determined using clinical and radiologic criteria. The application of traditional morphologic criteria (i.e., cytologic maturity and polymorphism favor benignancy, while cytologic atypia and monomorphism favor malignancy) [5, 6], has probably improved diagnostic accuracy. However, these criteria generally have not been helpful in evaluating the large number of lymphoid infiltrates composed of monomorphic collections of small cytologically-mature appearing lymphoid cells [1-4] and, therefore, have not always accurately predicted clinical behavior. Extranodal lymphoid proliferations are also of considerable biologic interest since their pathogenesis and natural history have not been fully elucidated. Localized non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, extranodal-MALT-type. was diagnosed in our Department in three cases: Two arose in the orbit and the third one in the tonsil. The tumors had a typical histologic appearance. The microscopical features and immunohistochemical profile are discussed.

[Pathogenesis of eso- and hypotropia in high myopia]. / Zur Pathogenese der Eso- und Hypotropie bei hoher Myopie.

BACKGROUND: In myopia characteristic types of strabismus and defects of ocular motility can occur. One of these myopia related disturbances shows a gradually increasing eso- and hypodeviation in progressively myopic eyes, caused by a corresponding deficit of abduction and elevation. Different pathogenetic factors have been described for this long known clinically uniform entity. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In eight patients with pathologic myopia a marked eso- and hypotropia was operated on in the last 15 years. The deviation was infantile in two and acquired in six cases. We performed a routine orthoptic examination and looked for anatomic variations of the rectus muscles during surgery. RESULTS: In seven of the eight cases the anterior portion of the lateral rectus muscle was not directed straight dorsaly but obliquely into the lower temporal quadrant of the orbit. A supraposition of the horizontal recti muscles in addition to a recess-resect procedure provided satisfactory results in five of six cases. CONCLUSIONS: Scleral ectasia in high myopia can lead to a downslip of the lateral rectus muscle relative to the globe, giving this muscle a depressing effect at the cost of its physiological action. As in Duane's syndromes with up- or down-shoot, a repair of the deviation is possible by combining horizontal surgery with vertical transposition of the horizontal recti muscles. Additional operations on the vertical recti muscles can thus be avoided.

[Strabismus surgery in children. The effect of paracetamol and bupivacaine]. / Strabismuschirurgie bei Kindern. Einfluss von Paracetamol und Bupivacain.

Postoperative vomiting is induced by different mechanisms such as age, anaesthetic technique and medications, postoperative analgesia, and surgical traction on the extra-ocular muscles. The influence of anticholinergic premedication and the use of benzodiazepines as factors affecting the incidence of vomiting is controversial. In a prospective, randomised, single-blind study we examined two different treatments with regard to postoperative pain, vigilance, and vomiting in young children undergoing strabismus repair. METHODS. After institutional ethical committee approval, informed written consent was obtained from all parents. The children were randomly assigned to three groups: (1) paracetamol (P)--17 patients who received 250-500 mg paracetamol rectally (dependent on body weight) immediately after intubation of the trachea; (2) bupivacaine (B)--17 patients who received two drops 0.5% bupivacaine hydrochloride on the conjunctiva of the eye(s) being corrected following intubation of the trachea and again 10 min after intubation. After the surgeon had exposed the extra-ocular muscle and before readaptation of the conjunctiva, two drops of the same solution were applied again each time directly on the muscle; and (3) controls (C)--16 patients who received rectal paracetamol after completion of the operation but before extubation. The children were premedicated with 0.05 mg/kg flunitrazepam sublingually. After 0.25 mg atropine i.v., anaesthesia was induced with 0.1 mg/kg vecuronium, 5 mg/kg thiopentone, 1.5 vol% enflurane, and N2O/O2 50:50. When the trachea was intubated anaesthesia was maintained with enflurane as required and 70% N2O in oxygen. Extubation was performed only if the patient could touch or did not tolerate the tube. Oral diet was allowed 6 h after extubation at the earliest. EXAMINATION OF VIGILANCE AND ANALGESIA. The degrees of vigilance and pain were evaluated preoperatively and after extubation over 24 h using two different scales. Evaluation of the scales was performed during the first 3 postoperative h at 12 different time points (Figs. 1, 2) and 6, 12, and 24 h after extubation. The evaluation was conducted by nursing staff who were blinded to the treatment (single-blind study). Postoperative analgesia consisted of 250-500 mg rectal paracetamol (all patients). Parametric data were expressed as mean +/- SD, and comparisons were made with the one-way analysis of variance. Fisher's exact test was applied to ordinal data. P < 0.05 indicates a statistically significant difference. RESULTS. Two patients (P) were excluded from the study postoperatively because of refusing rectal paracetamol in spite of pain and postoperative infection of the upper airways, which had manifested on the afternoon of the operative day. No significant differences were found between the three groups in patient characteristics (Table 1). The quantity of enflurane administered, rate, postoperative consumption of rectal paracetamol, and postoperative emesis were highest in the control group (Tables 2, 3), but the incidence of postoperative vomiting ranged only between 13% and 24% (Table 3). Children with preoperative paracetamol needed more time to fulfill the criteria to "stick out the tongue" and "recognising the mother". VIGILANCE. The time to postoperative crying or screaming and restlessness was shorter in the control group. The values reached significant difference at 10 min (P) and 25 min (P and B) after extubation compared with the other groups (Fig. 1). ANALGESIE. At 5, 10, and 150 min after extubation pain was significantly higher in patients in the control group (Fig. 2). CONCLUSIONS. Intraoperative administration of rectal paracetamol or topical 0.5% bupivacaine was most effective in the treatment of postoperative pain for strabismus surgery in younger children. Sublingual flunitrazepam and i.v. atropine given as premedication probably decrease postoperative vomiting.

[Meningioma of the optic nerve sheath with extensive intraocular growth]. / Optikusscheidenmeningeom mit ausgeprägtem intraokularem Wachstum.

PATIENT: We report on an elderly female patient with a diagnosis of an optic nerve sheath meningioma 11 years after onset of ophthalmological symptoms. 8 years after diagnosis and consecutive tumour-resection near the orbital apex the eye had to be enucleated because of a painful secondary glaucoma. Prior to enucleation computed tomography had revealed extra- and intraocular tumour. MORPHOLOGY: Morphological investigations showed a neoplasia which had entered the eye via the optic nerve head. Besides severe secondary changes there was a diffuse tumour spread within the choroid and a "mushroom-like" growth towards the vitreous cavity. No differences between extra- and intraocular meningioma were found light- and electronmicroscopically.

[Cystic teratoma of the orbit]. / Das zystische Teratom der Orbita.

Teratomas are rare cystic tumors of the orbit which lead to excessive congenital exophthalmos. They increase rapidly in size after birth and therefore require immediate surgical treatment. Initial puncture of the cyst under sonographic control prevents progressive mechanical damage to the globe and the optic nerve, providing sufficient time for the preoperative measures required prior to final surgical removal. The characteristic clinical features make it easy to identify a teratoma provided it has been taken into consideration in the differential diagnosis. It is shown with reference to one of the authors' own cases that a good functional result is possible after removal of the encapsulated tumor with preservation of the globe, even when the eye has been excessively displaced by the tumor.