RUTHENIUM-106 BRACHYTHERAPY IN THE TREATMENT OF CIRCUMSCRIBED CHOROIDAL HEMANGIOMA.

PURPOSE: To examine the efficacy and safety of Ruthenium-106 plaque radiotherapy in the treatment of circumscribed choroidal hemangioma. METHODS: Twenty-one eyes of 21 patients diagnosed with symptomatic circumscribed choroidal hemangioma who underwent Ruthenium-106 plaque radiotherapy were included in the study. Clinical response, ancillary tests finding improvement, and major side effects were evaluated. RESULTS: From the initial to the 1-year follow-up visits, vision improved in 12 eyes (57%), was stable in 7 eyes (33%), and became worse in 2 eyes (10%). Based on fluorescein angiography and optical coherence tomography, subretinal fluid and cystoid macular edema resolved in all patients. Changes in logarithm of minimum angle of resolution visual acuity (P = 0.038); tumor thickness (P = 0.0001) and largest diameter (P = 0.007) on ultrasonography; and subfoveal thickness on optical coherence tomography (P < 0.0001), were statistically significant between the initial and the 1-year follow-up visits. Side effects as observed during the follow-up period included: radiation-related retinopathy in 5 (24%) eyes, radiation-related papillopathy in 1 eye (5%), and subretinal fibrosis in 2 eyes (10%). Subretinal fibrosis was the only permanent radiation-related side effect. CONCLUSION: Ruthenium-106 plaque radiotherapy is an effective and safe method of treatment for symptomatic circumscribed choroidal hemangiomas. The incidence of permanent visual loss is low with prompt treatment of complications.

Comparison of the long-term outcomes of resident versus attending performed trabeculectomy.

PURPOSE: To compare the long-term outcomes obtained by residents and attending surgeons performing trabeculectomy. METHODS: After reviewing medical records of the patients, 41 residents performing trabeculectomy under supervision of attendings were compared to 41 attendings performing trabeculectomy. The primary outcome measure was the surgical success defined in terms of intraocular pressure (IOP) ≤ 21 mmHg (criterion A) and IOP ≤ 16 mmHg (criterion B), with at least 20% reduction in IOP, either with no medication (complete success) or with no more than 2 medications (qualified success). IOP, number of glaucoma medications, surgical complications, and visual acuity were analyzed as secondary outcome measures. RESULTS: Mean age of the patients was 59.5 ± 8.6 years in the resident group and 59.6 ± 12.31 years in the attending group (P = 0.96). Furthermore, mean duration of the follow-up was 62.34 ± 5.51 months in the resident group and 64.80 ± 7.80 months in the attending group (P = 0.10). The cumulative success according to criterion A was 87.8% in the resident group and 85.3% in the attending group (P = 0.50). Moreover, according to criterion B, it was 87.8% and 83% in the resident and attending groups, respectively (P = 0.62). Repeated glaucoma surgery was required in 12.2% and 2.4% of the patients in the resident and attending groups, respectively (P = 0.09). Rate of complications was 12.2% and 4.8% in the resident and attending groups, respectively (P = 0.23). CONCLUSION: There were comparable results with respect to success rates and complications between residents and attending surgeons performing trabeculectomy in the long-term follow-up.

Intraoperative mitomycin C use during filtration surgery and lacrimal drainage system obstruction.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of intraoperative mitomycin C (MMC) application during filtration surgery on lacrimal drainage system. DESIGN: Prospective, nonrandomized, comparative, observational case series. METHODS: All glaucomatous patients with previous filtration surgery with or without intraoperative MMC application were included. An ophthalmology resident took a detailed history and performed a general eye examination. Patients with ocular and periocular diseases and previous procedures that could affect the lacrimal drainage system were excluded. Diagnostic probing and irrigation of lacrimal drainage system were performed by a masked oculoplastic surgeon. RESULTS: There were 76 eyes from 60 patients with intraoperative MMC (MMC group) and 35 eyes from 24 patients without intraoperative MMC (non-MMC group) application. Two groups were matched for all the variables except for significantly longer duration of being on topical anti-glaucoma medications in the non-MMC group. Lacrimal drainage system obstruction was found in 18.4% of MMC and 22.8% of non-MMC group (P = .61). Upper lacrimal drainage system obstruction was insignificantly more in the MMC group. Duration of MMC application (one to five minutes) did not have significant impact on lacrimal drainage system obstruction. Patients with lacrimal drainage system obstruction were significantly more symptomatic (wet eye). CONCLUSION: Intraoperative MMC application during filtration surgery did not have a statistically significant impact on the rate of lacrimal drainage system obstruction.

Quality of life in patients with thyroid eye disease.

PURPOSE: To evaluate quality of life (QOL) before and after corticosteroid therapy for thyroid eye disease (TED) and to determine the impact of the disease on QOL. METHODS: A modified TED-QOL questionnaire was completed by consecutive patients before and at least 6 months after steroid therapy. All patients were clinically and biochemically euthyroid during the course of the study. QOL was assessed in subscales of visual function, psychosocial, and educational/counseling; TED was classified by severity score (NOSPECS) and Mourits' clinical activity score. RESULTS: Overall, 61 patients including 18 (29.5%) male and 43 (70.5%) female subjects with mean age of 37.3±13.7 (range, 18-33) years were enrolled. Mean duration of thyroid dysfunction and TED were 40.1±44.8 and 26.5±38.2 months, respectively. Mean disease severity and activity significantly decreased, and visual and psychosocial function scores significantly improved following corticosteroid therapy for TED. Psychosocial score was significantly worse than visual function score before but not after steroid treatment. Linear regression analysis and Spearman correlation test showed no significant correlation between duration of thyroid dysfunction, duration of TED, disease severity and activity on one hand, and QOL scores on the other hand, before or after treatment. CONCLUSION: TED seems to adversely affect psychosocial activity more than visual function. Corticosteroid therapy significantly improves QOL. No significant correlation seems to exist between QOL scores and the severity or activity of TED.