Interventional radiology and radiotherapy for inoperable cholangiocarcinoma of the extrahepatic bile ducts.

AIMS AND BACKGROUND: To evaluate the effectiveness of external radiation therapy (ERT), alone or combined with endoluminal brachytherapy (BRT), following percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD) in the treatment of patients affected by inoperable cholangiocarcinoma. METHODS & STUDY DESIGN: From September 1980 to June 1996, 130 jaundiced patients affected by inoperable cholangiocarcinoma were submitted to PTBD at the Division of Radiology C of the National Cancer Institute of Milan. Nineteen were excluded from the present analysis due to the short survival after PTBD (< 30 days). The other 111 patients were divided into three groups according to the following therapy: no further treatment after palliative PTBD in 89 patients (80%, group 1); ERT in 10 patients (9%, group 2); ERT plus BRT in 12 patients (11%, group 3). All the ERT + BRT patients were enrolled after 1990 and were treated with high-energy photon beams followed by endobiliary insertion of one or two iridium-192 wires. RESULTS: Median overall survival among the 111 assessable patients was 126 days; for groups 1, 2 and 3 it was 108, 345 and 428 days, respectively. The patients submitted to radiotherapy (ERT alone or ERT + BRT) were evaluated by radiologic examinations after the end of radiation. In group 2, a partial remission in 3 cases, a progression of disease in 1 case, and no change in 6 cases were observed. Among the patients of group 3, complete remission in 5 and partial remission in 7 patients were achieved. In all the patients achieving complete remission, the PTBD could be removed. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of ERT plus BRT improves survival and quality of life of the patients submitted to PTBD for cholangiocarcinoma. Under the technical point of view, radiation treatment is easy to perform, but much caution is required in defining clinical and planning target volumes. Moreover, drainage during the radiation treatment has to be submitted to a very meticulous surveillance.

Extraocular muscle size comparison between normal and myopic eyes using standardized A scan echography.

The aim of this study was to establish the range of diameters of extraocular muscles in myopic patients and to obtain the baseline data to follow progression or regression of pathologies involving them. Standardized A scan and B scan ultrasound was used to measure the thickness of straight extraocular muscles at the muscle belly. No statistical differences were seen between right and left eyes. We found no consistent correlation with age or with axial length in the control or in the myopic patients (p>0.05). Diameters in myopic and control eyes were similar. This lack of difference between myopic and control muscle sizes means that we can obtain accurate measurements also from myopic patients.

Axial length and refraction in retinal vein occlusions.

To assess whether axial length and refraction are risk factors for retinal vein occlusion, we measured these parameters in 88 consecutive patients with unilateral branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO), in 58 consecutive patients with unilateral central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) and in 50 patients selected as a control group. Patients and controls were free or affected by systemic or local predisposing factors. We compared eyes with CRVO with control eyes, eyes with BRVO with control eyes, and eyes with CRVO with eyes with BRVO. Comparing CRVO eyes and controls, none of the investigated variables was shown to be significant. From the analysis of BRVO eyes versus controls, it resulted that refraction was the only variable which played the role of an independent prognostic factor. When comparing BRVO eyes with CRVO eyes, we found that age was slightly related to the development of BRVO. In conclusion, faulty refraction appeared to be a risk factor for the development of BRVO. We did not find any influence of axial length on the occlusion of retinal veins.

Central retinal vein and branch artery occlusion associated with inherited plasminogen deficiency and high lipoprotein(a) levels: a case report.

We describe a case of central retinal vein and branch artery occlusion associated with inherited type I plasminogen deficiency (68%) and permanent elevation of Lp(a) (460 mg/l, S2 phenotype) in a 45 year old white woman with no associated local or systemic risk factors. Pedigree analysis revealed inheritance of plasminogen deficiency from the deceased father and of high Lp(a) levels from the mother. Both the patient's sons had plasminogen deficiency, but they had normal Lp(a) levels. In a series of 40 consecutive patients with central retinal vein occlusion we previously reported the observation of high Lp(a) levels--consistently associated with the S2 phenotype--in 30% of the patients as compared to a 10% incidence in controls. This case emphasizes the importance of screening patients with occlusion of the retinal vessels and no associated risk factors for coagulation abnormalities predisposing to thrombosis.

Hypercoagulability and high lipoprotein(a) levels in patients with central retinal vein occlusion.

A series of coagulation parameters and lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)) were explored in plasma from 40 patients with central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO, non-ischemic type n = 12; ischemic type n = 28) free of local and systemic predisposing factors, 1 to 12 months after the acute event. Forty age- and sex-matched patients with cataract served as controls. Prothrombin fragment 1.2 (F1.2), D-dimer, FVII:C--but not FVII:Ag--were higher and fibrinogen was lower in CRVO patients than in controls. Patients with non-ischemic CRVO had higher F1.2 and FVII:C and lower heparin cofactor II than patients with ischemic CRVO. Lp(a) levels greater than 300 mg/l were observed in 12 patients with CRVO and in 4 controls (30% vs 10%, p < 0.025). Patients with high Lp(a)--consistently associated with the S2 phenotype--had higher FVII:C, FVII:C/Ag ratio, and fibrinogen than the remaining CRVO patients. Plasma F1.2 and D-dimer correlated fairly in controls (r = 0.41) and patients with normal Lp(a) levels (r = 0.55), but they did not in the group of patients with high Lp(a) (r = 0.19), where the latter parameter was negatively related to D-dimer (r = -0.55). There was no dependence of the abnormalities observed on the time elapsed from vein occlusion. The findings of activated FVII and high F1.2, D-dimer, and Lp(a) are not uncommon in patients with CRVO. Increased thrombin formation with fibrin deposition and impaired fibrinolysis may play a role in the pathophysiology of CRVO and require specific treatment.

The learning curve in myopic photorefractive keratectomy.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to assess the role of surgeons' skill on the final results of photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) in the correction of myopia. METHODS: We evaluated the results of 160 consecutive unilateral treatments performed by four surgeons in a multicenter study group, with a one year follow up. Eighty-eight patients were males (55%) and 72 females (45%). Mean age was 33.7 years (median = 33, standard deviation = 10.22, range 18-65). Attempted correction ranged between -1.50 and -15.00 D. All the eyes received topical corticosteroid therapy postoperatively. At the one year follow up, we evaluated the following: uncorrected visual acuity lines gained and refractive error (spherical equivalent) as parameters of efficacy and predictability; best spectacle corrected visual acuity loss and corneal clarity as safety parameters. We also examined the centration or decentration of the ablation zone. In order to draw up a kind of learning curve, the mean values for each parameter were calculated by arbitrarily grouping the first 10 cases of each surgeon in the first group (40 patients), the second 10 cases in the second group (40 patients) and so on. RESULTS: We found that increase in uncorrected visual acuity, final refractive error and corneal clarity appeared to improve as the surgeon became more experienced, while loss of best spectacle corrected visual acuity was not significantly influenced by increased surgical experience. CONCLUSIONS: We think experience with photorefractive keratectomy in at least 40 eyes is necessary to obtain best results.

Excimer laser photorefractive keratectomy for myopia: results in 1165 eyes. Italian Study Group.

BACKGROUND: We report the results of a prospective study conducted in Italy to evaluate the efficacy, safety, predictability, and complications of excimer laser photorefractive keratectomy for the correction of myopia. METHODS. Photorefractive keratectomy was performed on 1236 myopic sighted eyes in 16 centers, using the Summit Excimed 193 nm excimer laser. The attempted correction ranged from -0.80 to -25.00 diopters (mean, -7.83 +/- 3.88 D). The population was divided into three groups of attempted correction: between -0.80 and -6.00 D, between -6.10 and -9.90 D, and between -10.00 and -25.00 D. We report the data of 1165 eyes at 1 month, 970 eyes at 3 months, 752 at 6 months, and 330 at 12 months. At each visit, we evaluated (1) the refractive changes over time; (2) the difference between attempted and achieved correction; (3) uncorrected and best spectacle corrected visual acuity; and (4) haze. RESULTS: Twelve months after surgery, the spherical equivalent refractive error in 146 eyes with attempted correction of -0.80 to -6.00 D was -0.52 +/- 1.04 D; 104 eyes (71.2%) were within +/- 1.00 D of attempted correction. In 145 eyes with attempted correction of -6.10 to -9.90 D, the spherical equivalent refractive error was -1.66 +/- 1.88 D; 50 eyes (34.5%) were within +/- 1.00 D of attempted correction. The spherical equivalent refractive error in 39 eyes with attempted correction of -10.00 to -25.00 D was -1.86 +/- 3.47 D; 11 eyes (28.2%) were within +/- 1.00 D of attempted correction. Eight eyes (2.4%) lost two or more Snellen lines of best spectacle corrected visual acuity. None of the treatments caused severe postoperative complications, or scarring. CONCLUSIONS: Photorefractive keratectomy proved safe and effective, but highly predictable only in the correction of myopia up to -6.00 D.

The erodible mask in photorefractive keratectomy for myopia and astigmatism.

This paper reports a new approach for performing photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) that uses an erodible mask to control shape transfer processes. The advantages of this technique, when compared to conventional PRK performed with mechanical diaphragm, are 1) the possibility of transferring almost any shape onto corneal surface; 2) a smoother corneal surface following photoablation; 3) easier eye fixation; and 4) a controlled humidified environment over ablation zone. We report our experimental study on scanning electron microscopy of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) plates ablated using conventional technique versus erodible mask technique; the results showed a smoother surface in the PMMA plate ablated using the erodible mask. We also report our preliminary clinical results of four eyes treated for the correction of myopia combined with astigmatism. Myopia ranged from -2.00 to -10.00 D, and astigmatism ranged from -1.50 to -2.50 D. Three months after surgery, all four eyes were within +/- 1.00 D of myopic attempted correction, but astigmatism was completely corrected only in one eye. No complications or scarring have been reported. We believe the erodible mask could be effective in the correction of myopia and myopic astigmatism, but further improvements are necessary to allow easier alignment of the mask over the eye. All commonly available excimer laser devices produce photorefractive keratectomy as a concentric ablation of the corneal stroma, deeper in the center than in the peripheral part; this is produced by means of an iris or diaphragm which, depending on the type of laser, progressively opens or closes, allowing a greater laser beam delivery in the center.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Efficacy of corticosteroids in reversing regression after myopic photorefractive keratectomy.

Topical corticosteroids are given commonly after photorefractive keratectomy (PRK). We present six eyes treated for correction of myopia ranging between -6.00 and -8.00 D, to whom corticosteroid drops were given and then suspended. Each eye had an increase in myopia with a mean of 2.00 D (range 1.00 to 3.50 D). All were then treated with topical dexamethasone (0.1%) four times per day for at least 15 days, and all showed decreases in myopia with partial or complete recovery of the intended correction (mean: 1.625 D; range 1.00 to 3.50 D). All of these refractive variations were documented by corneal topography. In one eye, refractive and topographic variations were detected by 3 days after corticosteroid treatment was initiated and they increased for 15 days. We believe corticosteroids can modulate refractive changes after PRK.

Photorefractive keratectomy for myopia: single vs double-zone treatment in 166 eyes.

We studied 58 single-zone and 58 double-zone treatments; attempted correction ranged between 6.50 and 10.00 D. There were no significant differences in the age or sex in the two groups. All the eyes received the same topical corticosteroid therapy. Refractive outcome showed a greater overcorrection in the double-zone than in the single-zone treatments, but the difference was not statistically significant (F = 3.17, p = 0.07). The refractive error shifted toward myopia significantly over time (F = 561.34, p < 0.0001). In the first-, third- and sixth-month follow up, the mean refractive error was +2.39 (+/- SD) +/- 1.94, +0.45 +/- 1.54, and -0.60 +/- 1.50 D in the single-zone treatments, while in the double-zone ones they were +1.95 +/- 2.49, +0.87 +/- 2.85 and +1.34 +/- 2.57 D, respectively. The Student's T test demonstrated a statistically significant difference of refractive outcome between the two groups only at 6 months (T = -3.788, p < 0.0001). Corneal haze decreased during follow up (F = 123.38, p < 0.0001) and was more severe in the single-zone than in the double-zone treatments (F = 9.28, p = 0.002). The Student's T test showed a significant difference at 6 months (T = 2.877, p = 0.006). The double-zone procedure appeared to be safer than the single-zone, but a longer follow up period and a greater number of treatments are required to draw final conclusions.