A Pilot Study of Subclinical Non-Capillary Peripapillary Perfusion Changes in Thyroid-Related Orbitopathy Detected Using Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography.

Purpose: Hemodynamic changes surrounding the optic nerve head are known to occur in thyroid-related orbitopathy (TRO). This pilot study explores the capillary and non-capillary peripapillary perfusion changes of the retina in TRO eyes without dysthyroid optic neuropathy (DON) using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A). Methods: Non-capillary and capillary peripapillary perfusion densities were calculated using single 4.5 × 4.5mm en face "RPC layer" OCT-A scans of 8 TRO patients without DON (8 eyes, mean age 40.6 years, range 23-69 years). Results were compared to a previously published dataset of 133 healthy controls (133 eyes, mean 41.5 years, range 11-83 years). The strength of association was measured between OCT-A perfusion densities and clinical measures of TRO. Results: Non-capillary peripapillary perfusion density in TRO eyes was found to be significantly decreased compared to healthy controls (TRO group 15.4 ± 2.9% vs controls 21.5 ± 3.1%; p < 0.0001). Capillary peripapillary perfusion densities showed no significant difference (TRO group 42.5 ± 1.8% vs controls 42.5 ± 1.5%; p = 1.0). Clinical measures of disease did not correlate well with OCT-A perfusion densities (p>0.05). Conclusion: These findings may represent decreased blood flow and subclinical ischemia to the optic nerve. We discuss possible pathogenic mechanisms of thyroid-related vasculopathy, including vessel wall thickening due to immunologically-induced media enlargement.

Concomitant adult onset xanthogranuloma and IgG4-related orbital disease: a rare occurrence.

Adult onset xanthogranulomatous disease is a rare orbital disease. IgG4-related disease is a systemic disease that can often manifest in the orbit. In this communication, we present the case of a patient with a xanthelasma-like lesion on the upper eyelid, and an enlarged lacrimal gland, which on biopsy was diagnosed as an orbital xanthogranuloma. Detailed serological workup showed that the patient was found to have elevated serum IgG4 levels. The orbital specimen was re-stained and found to be positive for IgG4. The patient was treated with oral steroids with partial resolution of the lesion. This is an interesting case of both histopathological adult onset xanthogranuloma (AOX) and IgG4-related orbital disease (IgG4-ROD). The early evidence suggests that the diagnosis of one of these disorders should point the physician to investigate for the presence of the other, especially if xanthogranulomatous disease is diagnosed first.

Extramedullary plasmacytoma of the lateral rectus muscle.

Plasmacytoma is an uncommon presentation of plasma cell malignancy, especially in the absence of multiple myeloma. Orbital plasmacytomas generally originate from bone, although few cases in the literature report orbital extramedullary plasmacytomas. We present the case of a 68-year-old man found to have a solitary extramedullary plasmacytoma in the lateral rectus muscle without further evidence of multiple myeloma. This case demonstrates a rare presentation for such a malignancy, and a review of the literature highlights the importance of proper workup and close monitoring to rule out multiple myeloma to guide management.

Improving Resident Performance in Oculoplastic Surgery: A New Curriculum Using Surgical Wet Laboratory Videos.

OBJECTIVE: To develop a new oculoplastic curriculum that incorporates learning theory of skill acquisition. To develop and evaluate the effectiveness of instructional videos for an oculoplastic surgical wet laboratory. DESIGN: Proof of concept, randomized controlled trial. SETTING: New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai-tertiary care academic institution. PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS: In total, 16 ophthalmology residents were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 groups and given either video and text or text instructions alone for the following 2 procedures: blepharoplasty and eyelid laceration repair. Operating time and esthetic result were measured, and the groups were statistically compared. A brief survey was administered. RESULTS: We developed a new 6 component oculoplastics curriculum that incorporates concepts of the Fitts and Posner skill acquisition model and mental imagery. In the wet laboratory pilot study, the group that watched the video of the laceration repair showed better esthetic grades than the group that received text alone (p = 0.038). This difference was not found for the blepharoplasty (p = 0.492). There was no difference between groups in operating time for the laceration repair (p = 0.722), but the group that watched the blepharoplasty video required more time to complete the task than those that reviewed text only (p = 0.023). In total, 100% of residents reported the videos augmented their learning. CONCLUSIONS: Methods to optimize surgical education are important given limited operating room time in oculoplastics, a subspecialty in which the number of surgeries performed during residency is relatively low. We developed a curriculum based on learning theory and sought to formally test one important aspect, surgical video for wet laboratories. Our pilot study, despite its limitations, showed that wet laboratory surgical videos can be effective tools in improving motor skill acquisition for oculoplastic surgery.

Dacryolithiasis: A Review.

PURPOSE: To review and summarize the clinical features, presentations, diagnostic modalities and management of dacryolithiasis. METHODS: A comprehensive PubMed search of all English articles on dacryolithiasis was reviewed. Although this review primarily relied on articles written in English, non-English-language articles that had abstracts translated into English were also reviewed. Data reviewed included epidemiology, pathogenesis, appearance and composition, clinical features, presentations, diagnostic modalities, management of dacryolithiasis and the implications of incidental dacryoliths found during lacrimal surgery. RESULTS: Although an unknown proportion of dacryolithiasis cases may remain asymptomatic; epiphora, acute and/or recurrent dacryocystitis, punctal discharge, and localized swelling are the most common presenting features of dacryolithiasis. It may also present as partial nasolacrimal duct obstruction. Dacryoliths exhibit a variety in external appearances. While some minimally invasive techniques for the removal of dacryoliths have been described, dacryocystorhinostomy with removal of the dacryoliths remain the most effective treatment in cases of symptomatic dacryolithiasis. The expression and production of certain proteins and peptides, namely those of the trifoil factor family play a significant role in the pathogenesis of dacryoliths. CONCLUSIONS: The management of dacryolithiasis is driven by the goal of resolution of secondary obstruction and/or inflammation. Although a large number of dacryoliths are incidentally found during dacryocystorhinostomy, certain clinical features such as unilateral sac distension, particularly those with a palpable firm medial canthal mass, might lead one to have a high index of suspicion. It remains unclear if the incidental finding of a dacryolith during a dacryocystorhinostomy has a favorable prognostic value.

Surgeon point-of-view recording: Using a high-definition head-mounted video camera in the operating room.

OBJECTIVE: To study the utility of a commercially available small, portable ultra-high definition (HD) camera (GoPro Hero 4) for intraoperative recording. METHODS: A head mount was used to fix the camera on the operating surgeon's head. Due care was taken to protect the patient's identity. The recorded video was subsequently edited and used as a teaching tool. This retrospective, noncomparative study was conducted at three tertiary eye care centers. The surgeries recorded were ptosis correction, ectropion correction, dacryocystorhinostomy, angular dermoid excision, enucleation, blepharoplasty and lid tear repair surgery (one each). The recorded videos were reviewed, edited, and checked for clarity, resolution, and reproducibility. RESULTS: The recorded videos were found to be high quality, which allowed for zooming and visualization of the surgical anatomy clearly. Minimal distortion is a drawback that can be effectively addressed during postproduction. The camera, owing to its lightweight and small size, can be mounted on the surgeon's head, thus offering a unique surgeon point-of-view. In our experience, the results were of good quality and reproducible. CONCLUSIONS: A head-mounted ultra-HD video recording system is a cheap, high quality, and unobtrusive technique to record surgery and can be a useful teaching tool in external facial and ophthalmic plastic surgery.

Long-term outcomes and patterns of failure in orbital lymphoma treated with primary radiotherapy.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the long-term outcome and patterns of failure in patients treated with primary radiotherapy (RT) for orbital lymphoma (OL). Seventy-nine patients diagnosed with stage IE OL between 1995 and 2012 were included. Fifty-nine patients (75%) had mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma and 20 patients (25%) had follicular lymphoma subtype. The median follow-up was 49.7 months. Major tumor sites were conjunctiva (29%), orbit (47%) and lacrimal gland (24%). After treatment to a median dose of 30.6 Gy, there were a total of no local, one contralateral orbital, two regional and two distant recurrences, all outside of the treatment fields. The 10-year local relapse-free, distant metastasis-free and overall survival rates were 100%, 94.2% and 98.2%, respectively. Definitive RT to 30 Gy was shown to be highly effective for indolent OL, and this study represents one of the largest single-institution studies using primary RT for stage IE OL.

Ocular adnexal lymphoma staging and treatment: American Joint Committee on Cancer versus Ann Arbor.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the prognostic utility of the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) staging system for ocular adnexal lymphoma (OAL).
 METHODS: A multicenter, consecutive case series of patients with biopsy-proven conjunctival, orbit, eyelid, or lacrimal gland/sac lymphoma was performed. The electronic pathology and clinical records were reviewed for new or recurrent cases of ocular adnexal lymphoma. The main outcome measures included pathology and clinical staging (AJCC and Ann Arbor systems), treatment, and recurrence (local and systemic). Statistical analysis included demographic evaluations and the Kaplan-Meier survival probability method.
 RESULTS: Extranodal marginal zone B-cell lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue were the most common (n=60/83, 72%). The most common Ann Arbor clinical stages were IE (76%) followed by IIE (17%) and IIIE (7%). Pathology identified 13 cases (15%) that were upstaged to group IV (p=0.017). Similarly, AJCC clinical stages were cT1NOMO (21.7%), cT2NOMO (44.6%), cT3N0M0 (5%), and cT4NOMO (2.4%). Local control was achieved in 75% of treated patients. There were 19 local recurrences from which 14 (74%) belonged to the non-radiation treatment groups. Lower-risk groups (T1 and T2 without lymph node involvement or metastatic disease of AJCC and IE of Ann Arbor) had longer disease-free survival than the higher-risk groups (AJCC T1, T2 with nodal involvement or metastatic disease, T3, and T4 as well as Ann Arbor II, III, and IV). The overall mean follow-up was 43.3 months (range 6-274).
 CONCLUSIONS: Regardless of stage, recurrence and disease-free survival were more closely related to treatment and histopathology rather than tumor size or site-specific location.

Mucin-producing sweat gland carcinoma of the eyelid: diagnostic and prognostic considerations.

PURPOSE: To describe the clinical and pathologic characteristics of mucin-producing sweat gland carcinoma of the eyelid and to determine whether neuroendocrine differentiation is of prognostic significance. DESIGN: Retrospective interventional case series. METHODS: Search of the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary pathology database between 1990 and 2011 identified 16 patients with mucin-producing sweat gland carcinoma. Clinical, histopathologic, and immunohistochemical analyses were performed on all identified cases. RESULTS: The patients presented with vascularized, focally cystic, nonulcerated eyelid margin lesions. Histopathologic evaluation showed that 4 lesions (25%) had a cystic, papillary, and solid growth pattern with an in situ component, 7 (44%) were pure invasive mucinous carcinomas, and 5 (31%) demonstrated both growth patterns. Immunohistochemical analysis of 15 tumors showed that pure cystic/papillary lesions had a significantly greater percentage of synaptophysin-immunoreactive cells (P = .036). There was no significant difference in the number of neuroendocrine markers expressed or in the intensity of immunostaining among the 3 different growth patterns. Re-excision for margin clearance was performed in 8 of 13 cases (61.5%). Two of 13 lesions recurred (15%); 1 of these was an in situ tumor with cystic morphology and neuroendocrine differentiation and the other was pure invasive mucinous carcinoma. None of the lesions metastasized. CONCLUSIONS: Mucin-producing sweat gland carcinoma pathologically represents a continuum, from an in situ lesion to a classic, invasive mucinous carcinoma. Immunohistochemical evidence of neuroendocrine differentiation can be observed in all lesions and does not appear to have a prognostic significance, arguing against the utility of immunohistochemical subtyping of mucinous sweat gland carcinomas.

Excision of periocular basal cell carcinoma with stereoscopic microdissection of surgical margins for frozen-section control: report of 200 cases.

OBJECTIVE: To report our experience with 200 cases of basal cell carcinoma (BCC) in 192 patients treated with an enhanced frozen-section control (FSC) technique using stereoscopic microdissection of surgical margins. METHODS: Retrospective series of 192 patients with 200 lesions diagnosed as BCC of the periocular region. All were excised en bloc with 1-mm margins beyond the clinically apparent tumor and examined using an enhanced FSC technique with stereoscopic microdissection of the surgical margins. RESULTS: Of 200 malignant BCCs, 93.0% represented primary tumors. The overall recurrence rate was 1.0%, with a mean follow-up of 4 years. In patients with primary lesions, the overall recurrence rate was 1.1%, with a mean follow-up of 3.9 years. There were no recurrences in the secondary tumor group after a mean follow-up of 4.8 years. Of the 200 lesions, 66.0% lesions required a single en bloc resection to achieve tumor-free margins. CONCLUSIONS: An enhanced FSC technique using stereoscopic microdissection of the surgical margins permits greater conservation of healthy tissue and yields cure rates comparable to those of the standard FSC technique and Mohs micrographic surgery. We believe that this enhanced FSC technique is a highly effective method for resection of periocular BCC.

Direct repair of canalicular lacerations.

Injury and disruption of the canaliculi of the lacrimal excretory system commonly occur from laceration or shearing trauma. This type of injury will likely lead to dysfunction of tear flow from the palpebral sulcus and chronic epiphora. The goal of this article is to give a step-by-step review of canalicular repair.

Thyroid-related orbitopathy: concepts and management.

Thyroid-related orbitopathy is a disorder related to systemic thyroid dysfunction, which can cause devastating orbital disease affecting nearly all of the orbital tissues. This includes orbital and eyelid abnormalities that may be acute, subacute, or chronic. The disease is complex and difficult to treat due varying activity of the systemic thyroid disease. The resulting morbidity of the disease ranges from mildly abnormal cosmesis and ocular irritation to blindness. A systematic approach to successful management of this disease requires timely medical and surgical interventions.

Blepharoptosis: evaluation, techniques, and complications.

Blepharoptosis (ptosis) is one of the most common eyelid disorders encountered in ophthalmology. A detailed history and exam are crucial in the evaluation of a patient presenting with ptosis. This provides the correct guidelines for surgical planning. The appropriate surgical technique is usually determined by the degree of ptosis and levator function. The surgeon should have an armamentarium of several different techniques for the management of ptosis. This article will detail a modified approach to the traditional tarsomyectomy (Fasenalla-Servat procedure) and also discuss the levator advancement. Despite the proper preoperative evaluation and meticulous attention to technique, the ptosis surgeon may still encounter postoperative complications. The ability to manage the array of possible complications truly distinguishes the ptosis surgeon.

Sphenoorbital meningiomas: surgical limitations and lessons learned in their long-term management.

OBJECT: Sphenoorbital meningiomas (SOMs) are complex tumors involving the sphenoid wing, orbit, and cavernous sinus, which makes their complete resection difficult or impossible. Sphenoidal hyperostosis that results in incomplete resection makes these tumors prone to high rates of recurrence with postoperative morbidity resulting in a nonfunctional globe. High-dose radiation therapy has often been described as the only treatment capable of achieving tumor control, although often at the expense of the patient's progressive visual deterioration. METHODS: This series consisted of 25 patients who were retrospectively analyzed over a 12-year period. Visual function was evaluated pre- and postoperatively in all patients. A standardized surgical approach to a frontotemporal craniotomy and orbitozygomatic osteotomy with intra- and extradural drilling of the optic canal and all the hyperostotic bone was performed. Orbital and cranial reconstruction was performed in all patients. The follow-up period was 6 months to 12 years (average 5 years). The patients presented with the classic triad of SOM: proptosis (86%), visual impairment (78%), and ocular paresis (20%). A gross-total resection was achieved in 70% of patients with surgery limited by the superior orbital fissure and the cavernous sinus. Proptosis improved in 96% of patients with 87% improvement in visual function. Ocular paresis improved in 68%, although 20% of patients experienced a temporary ocular paresis postoperatively. There were no perioperative deaths or morbidity related to the surgical approach or reconstruction. Ninety-five percent of patients reported an improved functional orbit. There was tumor recurrence in 8% of patients; in one case recurrence was delayed for longer than 11 years. CONCLUSIONS: Sphenoorbital meningiomas are a distinct category of tumors complicated by potentially extensive hyperostosis of the skull base. Successful resection requires extensive intra- and extradural surgery, necessitating drilling of the optic canal and an orbital osteotomy within anatomical limitations. The bone resection requires reconstruction with autograft, allografts, or alloplast for improved orbital function. All aspects of the clinical triad improved. A radical resection can be achieved with low morbidity, providing a significantly improved clinical outcome in the long-term period.

Endoscopic and transconjunctival orbital decompression for thyroid-related orbital apex compression.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of a combined endoscopic and transconjunctival orbital decompression in patients with thyroid-related orbitopathy with orbital apex compression. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective review. METHODS: A sequential series of patients with thyroid-related orbitopathy presenting with orbital apex compressive myopathy with and without optic neuropathy who were undergoing combined endoscopic and transconjunctival decompression by the same surgeons from 1992 to 2001 was reviewed. Patients were regularly evaluated preoperatively and postoperatively over a 3- to 55-month period to record the effects of this approach on visual acuity, Hertel exophthalmometry, and diplopia. Complications and secondary ophthalmological procedures were reviewed. RESULTS: Between 1992 and 2001, 72 combined endoscopic and transconjunctival decompressions were performed on 41 patients with orbital apex compression. Visual acuity improved in 89.3% of the patients with compressive optic neuropathy (P <.0005) and in 34.1% of those without neuropathy. Proptosis was reduced by 3.65 mm, on average. There was one case of transient intraoperative cerebrospinal fluid extravasation at the site of the optic nerve decompression, and one patient developed epistaxis. CONCLUSIONS: The study supports the treatment of thyroid-related orbital apex compression with and without compressive optic neuropathy by a combined transconjunctival and endoscopic approach. This approach offers short hospital stays, excellent visual recovery, and minimal complications in patients with thyroid-related orbital apex compressive myopathy and related compressive optic neuropathy. The beneficial effects observed in the patients with visual loss continued to improve over time and were significant (P <.001).

High-frequency ultrasonographic evaluation of conjunctival intraepithelial neoplasia and squamous cell carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the high-frequency B-scan ultrasonographic characteristics of squamous conjunctival neoplasia (conjunctival intraepithelial neoplasia and squamous cell carcinoma). METHODS: Each of 11 patients was examined with 20- and/or 50-MHz ultrasonography in a retrospective consecutive case series. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Ultrasonographic findings with clinical and histopathologic correlations. RESULTS: Eleven eyes of 11 patients (8 men) were affected. Disease involved the right eye in 6 (55%) of the patients and the left eye in 5 (45%) of the patients; it was multifocal in 5 (45%) of the eyes. All tumors extended to, or primarily involved, the limbal conjunctiva. One patient developed superficial spread overlying a functioning partial-thickness filtering bleb, 1 developed intraocular extension, 1 developed scleral invasion, and 3 developed orbital involvement before treatment. Results of ultrasonographic examinations showed that the superficial aspect of the smaller limbal tumors appeared as fusiform thickening of the conjunctiva. In all patients, the tumor surface was highly reflective in contrast to the characteristically low reflectivity seen within the tumor stroma. Intraocular tumor extension was variably reflective, but evidenced by blunting of the anterior chamber angle and thickening of the uvea. Orbital extension was viewed as low reflective tumor extension into the relatively hyperechoic orbital tissues. CONCLUSIONS: High-frequency ultrasonography may be used to assess the extent of squamous conjunctival neoplasia. While the 50-MHz system offered better resolution, 20-MHz ultrasonography allowed for a wider and deeper field of view. High-frequency ultrasonography was useful in determining tumor thickness, shape, and internal reflectivity, and especially in revealing tumor extension into the sclera, eye, and orbit.