Enucleation and evisceration: an analysis of indications, histopathological findings, and surgical trends over 23 years at a tertiary care hospital in western Canada.

OBJECTIVE: To report indications for eye removal, histopathological diagnosis, and surgical trends in enucleation versus evisceration over a 23-year period. DESIGN: Retrospective consecutive case series. PARTICIPANTS: All patients undergoing enucleation or evisceration at the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Edmonton, Canada, between January 1994 and December 2016. METHODS: Demographic information was recorded and archived hospital charts were accessed and reviewed for clinical diagnosis, histopathological diagnosis, and the type of implant used. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed. The study cohort was divided into 2 time periods by separating the first 10 years of the study period (1994-2004 inclusive) from the rest of the study time period (2005-2016 inclusive). RESULTS: A total of 786 patients with a mean age (±â€…SD) of 52 ±â€…23 years were included. The most common clinical diagnosis was blind painful eye (56%) followed by intraocular tumour (23%). Corresponding pathological examination of specimens revealed chronic inflammatory change (46%) and intraocular tumour (25%). Eyes with active infection were more likely to be eviscerated (odds ratio: 4.67; p < 0.001) when compared to other diagnostic groups, and all eyes diagnosed with intraocular tumours were enucleated. While most eyes in the study were enucleated, the proportion of eyes eviscerated increased over the study period (p = 0.010) from 8% between 1994-2004 to 14% between 2005-2016. CONCLUSIONS: While enucleation was performed more commonly overall, the incidence of evisceration increased throughout the study period. There were no instances of occult intraocular tumour in patients who were eviscerated.

Rapid plasticity of intact axons following a lesion to the visual pathways during early brain development is triggered by microglial activation.

Lesions in the central nervous system (CNS) can often induce structural reorganization within intact circuits of the brain. Several studies show advances in the understanding of mechanisms of brain plasticity and the role of the immune system activation. Microglia, a myeloid derived cell population colonizes the CNS during early phases of embryonic development. In the present study, we evaluated the role of microglial activation in the sprouting of intact axons following lesions of the visual pathways. We evaluated the temporal course of microglial activation in the superior colliculus following a contralateral monocular enucleation (ME) and the possible involvement of microglial cells in the plastic reorganization of the intact, uncrossed, retinotectal pathway from the remaining eye. Lister Hooded rats were enucleated at PND 10 and submitted to systemic treatment with inhibitors of microglial activation: cyclosporine A and minocycline. The use of neuroanatomical tracers allowed us to evaluate the time course of structural axonal plasticity. Immunofluorescence and western blot techniques were used to observe the expression of microglial marker, Iba-1 and the morphology of microglial cells. Following a ME, Iba-1 immunoreactivity showed a progressive increase of microglial activation in the contralateral SC at 24 h, peaking at 72 h after the lesion. Treatment with inhibitors of microglial activation blocked both the structural plasticity of intact uncrossed retinotectal axons and microglial activation as seen by the decrease of Iba-1 immunoreactivity. The local blockade of TNF-α with a neutralizing antibody was also able to block axonal plasticity of the intact eye following a ME. The data support the hypothesis that microglial activation is a necessary step for the regulation of neuroplasticity induced by lesions during early brain development.

The Demography and Etiology of Pediatric Enucleation in a Tertiary Eye Center in North China, 2001-2015.

PURPOSE: To review the demography and etiology of pediatric enucleation over time. METHODS: Pediatric ophthalmic inpatients recruited and recorded (aged 0-14 years) at Shandong Eye Institute from January 2001 to December 2015 were reviewed. Changes during the three periods from 2001 to 2005, 2006 to 2010, and 2011 to 2015 were compared and analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 9307 pediatric inpatients were reviewed. Of these, 71 patients (71 eyes) who had been treated by enucleation were analyzed; 46 were boys (64.79%) and 25 were girls (35.21%). The mean age at enucleation was 9 (0-14) years. The pediatric enucleation rate during this 15-year period was 0.76% (71/9307), with a decreasing trend (p < 0.001). From 2001 to 2005, the figure was 3.45% (43/1245); it dropped to 0.80% (26/3231) from 2006 to 2010 and then dropped further to 0.04% (2/4831) by 2015. Trauma (52.1%, 37/71) was the leading etiology. Overall, 89.2% (33 eyes) exhibited open globe injuries; 78.4% (29/37) of these involved boys. In the cases with open injuries, the mean age at the time of trauma was 6.0 (0-14) years and the mean age at enucleation was 11 (2-14) years. Retinoblastoma (RB) (22.5%, 16/71) was the second-most common etiology; 68.8% (11/16) of these cases involved girls and the mean age at enucleation was 2 (0-5) years. CONCLUSION: A decrease in pediatric enucleation in North China, especially in Shandong Province, was observed over time, possibly because of better surgical techniques, improvements in the treatment of RB, and public health interventions in children.

Indications for eye removal in southern Nigeria.

To determine the trend in frequency and clinical indications of surgical removal of eyes in a tertiary eye centre in Calabar, Nigeria. This is a 10-year retrospective review of patients who underwent surgical removal of eyes in a tertiary centre. The clinical records were reviewed (between Jan 2001 and Dec 2010) for demographic data, type of surgery, and clinical indications. A total of 137 eyes were surgically removed within the study period. Of these 46 were children (<16 years). There were 85 males and 52 females giving a M:F ratio of 1.6:1. Clinical indications for surgical eye removal include infective causes (32.1 %; perforated corneal ulcers, endophthalmitis, panophthalmitis), trauma (21.2 %), tumours (21.2 %), anterior staphyloma (13.1 %), and painful blind eyes (9.5 %). Phthisis bulbi, expulsive haemorrhage and aphakic bullous keratopathy accounted for the remaining 2.8 %. The eyes were removed by evisceration (63.5 %), enucleation (29.9 %) and modified exenteration (6.6 %). The commonest indication for eye removal in children was tumour (retinoblastoma). Eye removal in southern Nigeria is often due to infective causes (panophthalmitis and endophthalmitis), perforated corneal ulcer, mechanical trauma (blunt or open globe injury from gunshots or direct trauma), chemical burns, tumours, persistently painful blind eye and anterior staphyloma. Other indications for eye removal were phthisis bulbi, expulsive haemorrhage and aphakic bullous keratopathy.

Enucleation and evisceration: 20 years of experience.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the indications, relative frequencies, surgical times, and complications for enucleation and evisceration performed at a single academic center. METHODS: Medical records of all patients who underwent an enucleation or evisceration between January 1st, 1990 and December 31st, 2009 at a single academic center were reviewed. Patient demographics and surgical indications, times, and complications were recorded. RESULTS: A total of 85 eyes in 85 patients underwent enucleation (n = 31; 36%) or evisceration (n = 54; 64%) during the study period. Almost all patients were of African descent (96%). The most common underlying cause leading to eye removal was trauma. On average, eviscerations (47.3 ± 10.3 minutes) took significantly less time to perform than enucleations (89.6 ± 10.1 minutes; p < 0.01). Complications included implant exposure, infection, lower lid laxity, fornix insufficiency, and need for subsequent surgery; the occurrence of these complications was found to be similar between the two groups (p = 0.77). No case of sympathetic ophthalmia or inadvertent evisceration of an eye with an occult intraocular malignancy was noted. From the first decade for which data were available (1990- 1999) to the second decade (2000- 2009), the average number of enucleations decreased (p = 0.02) and the average number of eviscerations (p = 0.04) increased. CONCLUSION: Evisceration was found to be a safe and quicker alternative to enucleation in our study. A change in surgical preference from enucleation to evisceration was seen during the 20-year study period.

Fifteen-year trends in indications for enucleation from a tertiary care center in South India.

AIM: To analyze the trends in clinicopathologic indications for enucleations over a 15-year period. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Clinicopathologic details of all eyes that underwent enucleation from January 1996 to December 2010 were drawn up from a computerized database. The study was divided into three periods of 5 years each and comparison tables for each cause of enucleation during these periods were generated. Chi-square test was used to compare proportions. RESULTS: Out of a total 1467 enucleations performed during the study period, 693 (46%) were attributable to retinoblastoma, 189 (12.5%) to uveal melanoma, 228 (15%) to trauma, and 149 (10%) to phthisis bulbi. Intraocular tumors accounted for more than 63% of all enucleations performed. Over the three time periods, proportion of enucleations secondary to retinoblastoma increased from 38% in the 1 st period to 58% in the 3 rd period (P < 0.001). Enucleations for trauma showed statistically significant reduction in trends over the three periods (24% in the 1 st period vs. 4.4% in the 3 rd period, P < 0.001). Similar trends were also seen in the proportion of enucleations due to intractable glaucoma and chronic uveitis. The absolute number of enucleations secondary to retinoblastoma out of the total cases seen during the study period did not change over the three periods (range 51-60%). CONCLUSION: Intraocular tumors were the commonest indications for enucleation in our patient population despite the availability of globe-conserving treatments such as chemotherapy and radioactive plaques. We observed increasing trends in the proportion of enucleations due to retinoblastoma and reduction of enucleations secondary to trauma, chronic uveitis, and glaucoma.

The eye amputated - consequences of eye amputation with emphasis on clinical aspects, phantom eye syndrome and quality of life.

In this thesis the term eye amputation (EA) covers the removing of an eye by: evisceration, enucleation and exenteration. Amputation of an eye is most frequently the end-stage in a complicated disease, or the primary treatment in trauma and neoplasm. In 2010 the literature is extensive due to knowledge about types of surgery, implants and surgical technique. However, not much is known about the time past surgery. THE PURPOSE OF THE PHD THESIS WAS: To identify the number of EA, the causative diagnosis and the indication for surgical removal of the eye, the chosen surgical technique and to evaluate a possible change in surgical technique in Denmark from 1996 until 2003 (paper I); To describe the phantom eye syndrome and its prevalence of visual hallucinations, phantom pain and phantom sensations (paper II); To characterise the quality of phantom eye pain, including its intensity and frequency among EA patients. We attempted to identify patients with increased risk of developing pain after EA and investigated if preoperative pain is a risk factor for a later development of phantom pain (paper III); In addition we wanted to investigate the health related quality of life, perceived stress, self rated health, job separation due to illness or disability and socio-economic position of the EA in comparison with the general Danish population (paper IV). THE STUDIES WERE BASED ON: Records on 431 EA patients, clinical ophthalmological examination and an interview study of 173 EA patients and a questionnaire answered by 120 EA patients. CONCLUSIONS: The most frequent indications for EA in Denmark were painful blind eye (37%) and neoplasm (34%). During the study period 1996-2003, the annual number of eye amputations was stable, but an increase in bulbar eviscerations was noticed. Orbital implants were used with an increasing tendency until 2003. The Phantom eye syndrome is frequent among EA patients. Visual hallucinations were described by 42% of the patients. The content were mainly elementary visual hallucinations, with white or colored light as a continuous sharp light or as moving dots. The most frequent triggers were darkness, closing of the eyes, fatigue and psychological stress. Fifty-four percent of the patients had visual hallucinations more than once a week. Ten patients were so visually disturbed that it interfered with their daily life. Approximately 23% of all EA experience phantom pain for several years after the surgery. Phantom pain was reported to be of three different qualities: (i) cutting, penetrating, gnawing or oppressive (n=19); (ii) radiating, zapping or shooting (n=8); (iii) superficial burning or stinging (n=5); or a mixture of these different pain qualities (n=7). The median intensity on a visual analogue scale, ranging from 0 to 100, was 36 [range: 1-89]. One-third of the patients experienced phantom pain every day. Chilliness, windy weather and psychological stress/fatigue were the most commonly reported triggers for pain. Factors associated with phantom pain were: ophthalmic pain before EA, the presence of implant and a patient reported high degree of conjunctival secretion. A common reason for EA is the presence of a painful blind eye. However, one third of these patients continue to have pain after the EA. Phantom sensations were present in 2% of the patients. The impact of an eye amputation is considerable. EA patients have poorer health related quality of life, poorer self-rated health and more perceived stress than does the general population. The largest differences in health related quality of life between the EA patients and the general population were related to role limitations due to emotional problems and mental health. Patients with the indication painful blind eye are having lower scores in all aspects of health related quality of life and perceived stress than patients with the indication neoplasm and trauma. The percentage of eye amputated which is divorced or separated was twice as high as in the general population. Furthermore, 25% retired or changed to part-time jobs due to eye disease and 39.5% stopped participating in leisure activities due to their EAs.

Estudio de la conservación del globo ocular con un abordaje multiterapéutico en el melanoma uveal / Ocular retention in patients with uveal melanoma managed by a multimodality approach

Objetivo: Analizar la supervivencia de los globosoculares afectados de melanoma uveal sometidos atratamiento conservador, en un centro que aplicatodas las modalidades de tratamiento.Métodos: Se han incluido en el estudio los pacientesdiagnosticados de melanoma de úvea tratadosentre septiembre de 1990 y abril de 2007 en la unidadde Oncología Ocular del Hospital Clínico Universitariode Valladolid realizándose un estudio decohortes histórico.Resultados: De los 273 pacientes incluidos en elestudio, se trataron 193 pacientes con terapias conservadoras(70,69%), mientras que se enuclearon deforma primaria 80 (29,30%). Se enuclearon de formasecundaria 14 de los sometidos a tratamientoconservador (7,2%) El análisis de supervivencia deKaplan-Meier reveló que tras la aplicación de untratamiento conservador, la probabilidad de conservacióndel globo ocular a los 5 años es del 88% y alos 10 años es del 83%.Conclusiones: El presente estudio pone de manifiestola seguridad de los tratamientos conservadores en el melanoma uveal, especialmente de la braquiterapiaepiescleral, en cuanto a control local dela enfermedad y a tasa de efectos secundarios(AU)

Objective: to analyze ocular survival in eyes withuveal melanoma treated with conservative therapies,in a centre that applies all treatment modalities.Methods: Patients diagnosed with uveal melanomaand treated between September 1990 and April2007 were included in an historical cohorts study.Results: 273 patients were included. 193 were treatedwith conservative treatments (70.69%) and 80were enucleated as primary treatment. 14 patientswere enucleated after conservative treatment(7.2%). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed an88% survival probability of the eye in the first 5years after conservative treatment and 83% at 10years.Conclusions: Conservative treatments for uvealmelanoma, especially brachitherapy, are safe andeffective in relation to tumor control and rate ofsecondary effects(AU)

Retinoblastoma in Iran: outcomes in terms of patients' survival and globe survival.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Retinoblastoma is a highly malignant eye tumour in children with different survival rates across the world. The aims of this study are to determine the globe and patient survival in children with retinoblastoma in a major referral centre in Iran. METHODS: 156 eyes of 105 consecutive patients with retinoblastoma were enrolled from 2001 to 2007. All demographic data, family history, presenting symptoms, duration of symptoms, ocular findings and treatment modalities that were used for the patients were collected. For patient survival, event was defined as death and for globe survival as enucleation. RESULTS: The mean age at diagnosis was 28.5 months (unilateral 27.4 months; bilateral 30 months). Five patients had a positive family history. Fifty-two per cent of the cases were unilateral, and 48% were bilateral. The most common presenting sign was leucocoria (64.8%) followed by strabismus (28.2%). Enucleation was done primarily for 75.9% of unilateral cases and 34.3% of bilateral cases. Secondary enucleation was necessary in 5.6% and 7.8% of unilateral and bilaterally involved eyes respectively. Sixty-nine (44.2%) of 156 eyes were salvaged by different globe preserving modalities (unilateral 18.5%; bilateral 57.9%). The Kaplan-Meier survival estimate for globe preservation according to International Classification of Retinoblastoma (ICRB) was 100% for group A eyes, 93.5% for group B, 86.7% for group C, 57.1% for group D and 0% for group E eyes. Kaplan-Meier estimates for patients survival were 100% at 1 year, 94.8% at 3 years and 83.1% at 5 years. CONCLUSION: Progress in methods of treatment, early detection of the disease and prompt referral to specialised centres have led to improved outcomes for patients with retinoblastoma in terms of globe and patients' survival rates even in developing countries.

Causes of enucleation in Northern India (1995-2005).

PURPOSE: There are limited data concerning the reasons for surgical removal of eyeball. The present retrospective study was undertaken to evaluate the frequency of diseases requiring surgical removal of eyeball and to study the histopathologic changes in these specimens. METHODS: Forty-eight surgical eyeball specimens received between January 1999 and June 2005 were included in the study. Age, sex, and clinical diagnoses were recorded in each case. Specimens were classified on the basis of surgical procedure. Gross and microscopic findings were noted for all the specimens. RESULTS: Between January 1995 and June 2005, there were 139,092 outpatients, 6,574 hospital admissions, 12,044 ophthalmic operations, and a total of 48 enucleations in 47 patients. Of these 47 patients, 24 were male and 23 female with almost equal male:female ratio. Right eye was involved in 29 cases while left was involved in 17 cases. Bilateral eye involvement was seen in one case. Surgical specimens included enucleation (28 cases, 58.3%), exenteration (12 cases, 25%), and evisceration (8 cases, 16.6%). On histopathologic examination, the lesions were categorized into two broad groups: neoplastic (8 cases, 16.6%) and non-neoplastic (40 cases, 83.4%). Both groups were further subcategorized and correlated with clinical diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: In our setting, non-neoplastic lesions are the main cause of eyeball surgery, as compared to the West, where trauma followed by neoplasms constitute important causes. Pathologic examination of eyeballs is a must for proper postoperative management of the patient.

Twenty year review of histopathological findings in enucleated/eviscerated eyes.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To evaluate the need for routine histopathological analysis of enucleated/eviscerated eyes and changes in indications for eye removal. METHODS: Retrospective review of all enucleation/evisceration histopathology reports over 20 years. Clinical history was correlated with pathological findings. Two 10 year periods (1984-93, 1994-2003) were compared to detect changes in indications for eye removal. RESULTS: In total, 285 histopathology results were traced from 1984 to 2003; 161 and 124 were evisceration and enucleation specimens, respectively. Glaucoma, malignant melanoma, trauma, and retinal detachment were the most frequent diagnoses 1984-1993. Ocular trauma was the most frequent diagnosis 1994-2003, followed by phthisis bulbi and endophthalmitis. Three cases were diagnosed as metastatic carcinoma; all were suspected preoperatively. A fourth case was a diagnostic surprise: adenocarcinoma found in an eye removed for pain and phthisis. Comparison of two 10 year periods showed a decrease in the number of enucleations/eviscerations, perhaps reflecting a decrease in the number of specimens sent. A preference for eviscerations was evident over the 20 years. CONCLUSION: The number of eyes removed and histologically analysed decreased in the period 1994 to 2003, perhaps because of better treatment options, allowing globe preservation. There was a significant shift in the diagnosis in the two time periods, and a preference for evisceration in both. Only one diagnostic surprise was discovered (0.35%). This study does not support the need to send all globes/contents for histopathological examination. However, because of the one unexpected finding, it is recommended where the examination is incomplete or the history of visual loss is unclear.

Retinoblastoma in Victoria, 1976-2000: changing management trends and outcomes.

PURPOSE: To describe changes in the management of retinoblastoma in Victoria and to review the effect of newer, conservative treatments on preservation of eyes, visual outcome and mortality by comparing a similar group of patients treated over successive time intervals. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of all cases of retinoblastoma diagnosed and treated in Victoria between 1956 and 2000 was conducted. Historical data on 77 cases previously published by O'Day et al. was used for the period 1956-1976 (series 1). Data on 88 cases recorded in the Royal Children's Hospital (Melbourne) Retinoblastoma Database was used for the period 1976-2000. The latter group was subdivided into those treated between 1976 and 1989 (series 2), prior to the advent of modern eye saving treatments, and those treated subsequent to their introduction from 1990 to 2000 (series 3). RESULTS: In unilateral retinoblastoma, final enucleation rates for 1956-1976 (series 1) and 1976-1989 (series 2) were almost identical, being 98% and 97% of affected eyes, respectively (P = 1.00). Despite the newer treatments used after 1990 (series 3), 88% of affected eyes were still enucleated, representing a statistically similar outcome to series 2 (P = 0.33). In bilateral retinoblastoma, primary enucleation of the more involved eye was similar for series 1 (84%) and 2 (80%) but series 3 (41%) was substantially less than series 2 (P = 0.04) following the increased use of conservative treatments. In series 3, 59% of more involved eyes were treated conservatively compared with 16% (P = 0.007) and 20% (P = 0.04) for series 1 and 2, respectively. Despite attempts at eye salvage, the failure rate was higher in series 3 (29%) yielding a final enucleation rate of 70%, which represented a modest downward trend in the numbers of eyes finally enucleated; 84% (series 1), 73% (series 2) and 70% (series 3) (test for trend, P = 0.33). Bilateral enucleation rates were significantly lower, from 36% and 30% in series 1 and 2, respectively, to 7% in series 3 (test for trend, P = 0.02). As a consequence, more eyes were preserved over time, being 20/50 (40%) in series 1, 15/30 (50%) in series 2 and 21/34 (62%) in series 3. Comparison of visual outcome was hampered by incomplete data in series 1 but it appeared series 2 and 3 achieved better visual acuities with 67% and 62% of preserved eyes in bilateral cases measuring equal to or better than 6/12. Mortality rates in all series were low, being 7.8% in series 1, 4.5% in series 2 and nil in series 3. CONCLUSIONS: Following the introduction of new conservative treatments, there has been an increase in preservation of eyes and improved visual outcome, and a dramatic decrease in numbers of bilateral enucleations without adversely affecting survival.

Estudio experimental en ojos de conejos sobre la utilización de tejido oseo esponjoso como implante orbitario en evisceraciones y enucleaciones / Experimental study on the use sponcy oseous tissue as an implant after enucleation and evisceration in rabbits

Tratar de demostrar la integración del tejido óseo esponjoso bovino como implante intraorbitario en evisceraciones y enucleaciones. Estudio experimental descriptivo. Se colocaron esferas de 10 mm de tejido óseo esponjoso bovino como implante intraorbitario en 10 conejas con evisceraciones (5 con ventana escleral y 5 sin ventana) y 10 conejas con enucleaciones, durante 6 meses, retinándose a los 15 días, al mes, a los 2 meses, 4 meses y 6 meses; y se coloracon en formol al 10 por ciento más ácido clohídrico para estudio histopatológico. Macroscópicamente, no hay presencia de envoltura tisular. Microscópicamente: los implantes de evisceraciones y enucleaciones presentaron tejido fibrovascular, abarcando toda la superficie, al mes en las evisceraciones y 15 días en las enucleaciones, con reacción inflamatoria aguda a los 15 días, disminuyendo y tornándose crónica y ausente a los 6 meses. Reacción inflamatoria tipo cuerpo extraño relacionado a las zonas de cierre, observándose complicaciones como abscesos y necrosis: uno clínicamente correposdiente a un implante proveniente de enucleación de 4 meses con dehiscencia de la conjuntiva y otro de 6 meses con exposición del implante y secreción purulante. Invasión de todo el tejido óseo esponjoso por tejido conectivo a los 6 meses, estructuras perioculares conservadas, trabeculas ósea levemente adelgazadas. Se demostró buena integración en la evolución clínica e histológica de los implantes de tejido óseo esponjoso durante 6 meses de estudio, considerándose como biocompatible para reconstrucciones de cavidades anoftálmicas. Sin embargo, sería conveniente ver la evolución en un tiempo más prolongado

Clinicopathologic correlations in 646 consecutive surgical eye specimens, 1990-2000.

All surgical eye specimens examined in our pathology laboratory between January 1, 1990, and July 31, 2000 (N = 646), were classified by surgical procedure (enucleation, evisceration, or exenteration) and pathologic diagnosis. Among 523 enucleated globes (81.0%), 252 (48.2%) contained tumors, of which 208 were intraocular malignant melanomas. Nonneoplastic causes for enucleation included glaucoma (67/523 [12.8%]), phthisis bulbi (61/523 [11.7%]), and recent trauma (59/523 [11.3%]). Sixty-seven specimens (10.4%) had been eviscerated. Fifty-six specimens (8.7%) were obtained by exenteration performed to manage malignant tumors originating in or invading the orbit. Between 1990 and 2000, the percentage of procedures performed to remove neoplasms decreased from 65% to 38%, procedures performed to treat glaucoma increased from 4% to 29%, and those to treat phthisis bulbi increased from 8% to 13%. The numbers of procedures remained relatively constant for trauma and for infectious and inflammatory diseases.

Recent developments in the management of retinoblastoma.

The management of retinoblastoma has gradually changed over the past few decades. There is a trend away from enucleation and external beam radiotherapy toward focal conservative treatments. This is primarily because of earlier detection of the disease and more focused treatment modalities. Enucleation is still employed for retinoblastoma that fills most of the eye, especially when there is a concern for tumor invasion into the optic nerve or choroid. After enucleation, an integrated orbital implant, provides improved motility and appearance of the prosthesis. External beam radiotherapy continues to be an important method of treating less advanced retinoblastoma, especially when there is diffuse vitreous or subretinal seeding. Plaque radiotherapy is useful for controlling small- to medium-sized retinoblastomas, even those with focal vitreous seeds. Tumors that recur after failure of other methods are often suitable for plaque treatment. When plaque radiotherapy is employed in a child receiving chemotherapy, eventual radiation retinopathy can occur. Cryotherapy and photocoagulation provide excellent control of selected small tumors. Advanced laser delivery systems, particularly those that have been adapted to the indirect ophthalmoscope, have facilitated the visualization for treatment of tumors. Thermotherapy is the newest focal method for retinoblastoma. When combined with chemotherapy, thermotherapy provides satisfactory tumor control, leaving the child with a reasonably small scar, thus preserving more vision. Chemoreduction, using intravenous or subconjunctival routes, is often employed to reduce initial tumor volume and thus allow for focal treatment to eradicate the residual smaller tumor. Many children with advanced retinoblastoma can be spared external beam radiotherapy and enucleation mostly as a result of chemoreduction and focal methods. Chemoreduction combined with cryotherapy, thermotherapy, and plaque radiotherapy plays an important role in the current management of many children with retinoblastoma.

Causes of enucleation: a clinicopathological study.

BACKGROUND: Enucleation is an approach used for unresponsive end-stage ocular disease often resulting in blind, painful or cosmetically unacceptable eyes. METHODS: We reviewed the clinicopathological data on 3506 enucleations performed over a 50-year period, 1945-1995. Histopathological data were divided into eight groups according to the causes leading to enucleation: trauma, phthisis, corneal disease, inflammation, vitreoretinal disease, glaucoma, tumors and infections. RESULTS: The study considered 3506 enucleated eyes of 3482 patients, 2467 (70.8%) males and 1011 (29.1%) females (4 sex unspecified). The z-test showed there were significantly more enucleations in males for phthisis (p < 5.05), infections (p < 0.01), trauma (p < 0.01) and inflammation (p < 0.01) and more enucleations for tumors in females (p < 0.01). There were no differences between males and females with regard to enucleations for glaucoma, vitreoretinal and corneal diseases (p > 0.05). The 0-9 years age group was most frequently affected, accounting for 29.7% of the cases. Patients aged less than 30 years constituted 53.6% of all enucleations. The primary or underlying causes leading to enucleation were tumors (1185 eyes, 33.8%), phthisis (587 eyes, 16.7), glaucoma (561 eyes, 16.0%), vitreoretinal diseases (320 eyes, 9.1%), infections (259 eyes, 7.4%), corneal disease (229 eyes, 6.5%), trauma (209 eyes, 6.0%) and inflammation (156 eyes, 4.4%). Time trends in enucleating eyes with different causes showed the number of enucleations for phthisis, infections, corneal diseases, trauma and inflammations had dropped during the ten-year period 1986-1995 compared to 1976-1985 (z-test, p < 0.01). There were no real changes in enucleations for glaucoma and vitreoretinal diseases and there was an increase in the number of enucleations for tumors (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Improved diagnostic and therapeutic methods, widespread use of photocoagulation in vascular disorders and vitreoretinal surgery in traumas, effective antimicrobial treatment, increasing use of corticosteroids and immunosuppressants, have contributed to the decreasing frequency of enucleation. Tumor patients generally presented late with advanced tumors totally filling the eye, not salvageable by other non-invasive treatment methods. Prompt diagnosis of intraocular malignant tumors (retinoblastoma and malignant melanoma) may reduce the need for enucleation.