Intralesional mitomycin-C for the treatment of conjunctival Kaposi sarcoma.

A 38-year-old human immunodeficiency virus-positive man presented with a progressively enlarging pigmented lesion in the right inferior fornix of the eye. A biopsy was performed of this lesion, which revealed Kaposi sarcoma. Intralesional mitomycin-C was delivered to the lesion, resulting in complete resolution of the sarcoma. At 36 months of follow-up, there is no evidence of recurrence. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of successful treatment of conjunctival Kaposi sarcoma with intralesional mitomycin-C.

A rabbit model of lower eyelid fibrosis.

PURPOSE: To create and validate a new model of lower eyelid fibrosis in Dutch-belted rabbits. METHODS: Five Dutch-belted rabbits were injected with a transcutaneous 1-ml injection of standard 95% ethanol alcohol just inferior to the eyelid margin of one lower eyelid. A control injection of 1 ml of balanced saline solution was given to the opposite eyelid. A small tattoo was placed on the skin overlying the inferior orbital rim and used as a measuring point of reference in relation to the lower eyelid margin. Analysis was twofold: eyelid measurements were made over 8 weeks to determine the presence of eyelid shortening, and a histopathologic analysis was performed. RESULTS: Mean lower eyelid shortening was greater in the ethanol alcohol intervention eyelids than the control group (-3.4 mm +/- 1.67 mm vs. 0.5 mm +/- 0.71 mm, p = 0.01). Histopathologic analysis revealed extensive fibrosis in the ethanol alcohol invention eyelids compared with the control group. CONCLUSIONS: Ethanol alcohol induces eyelid fibrosis and lower eyelid shortening. This may be a useful model in the future testing of novel surgical or pharmacologic treatments.

Smooth nylon foil (SupraFOIL) orbital implants in orbital fractures: a case series of 181 patients.

PURPOSE: The SupraFOIL smooth nylon foil implant is a polyamide sheet available in varying thicknesses that has been used in orbital reconstruction following trauma. The authors report their experience with smooth nylon foil implants in the repair of orbital fractures. METHODS: A retrospective chart review of patients having undergone repair of orbital fractures between January 1, 1995 and December 31, 2003 was conducted. The Wilcoxon test was used to compare cases with complications and those with no complications. RESULTS: Of 282 orbits that underwent fracture repair with alloplastic material, 87 were excluded because non-nylon foil implants were used alone or in combination with nylon foil to repair the orbital fracture. An additional 14 fractures were excluded because of insufficient clinical data or lack of follow-up, for a total of 181 orbits that underwent orbital fracture repair with only nylon foil. A transconjunctival approach was used in 98% cases, and all 181 implants were fixated with at least 1 titanium screw. Average follow-up was 362.8 days. The overall complication rate was 1.7%. One patient had an acute postoperative orbital hemorrhage (0.6% acute complication rate). Two patients had late orbital infections, 683 days and 984 days following repair (1.1% late complication rate). CONCLUSIONS: The authors found the smooth nylon foil implant to be safe and effective in orbital fracture repair. The lower rate of complications the authors observed compared with previously reported series may be related to implant fixation. A titanium screw secured just posterior to the orbital rim may decrease long-term complications by providing more stability than implants left without fixation.

Lash ptosis in congenital and acquired blepharoptosis.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of lash ptosis (LP) in eyes with congenital and acquired blepharoptosis. METHODS: We retrospectively graded photographs of 228 eyes from 174 patients with congenital or acquired blepharoptosis for LP. We used a 4-point rating scale for LP, in which 0 indicates no LP; 1, minimal; 2, moderate; and 3, severe. A prospective evaluation of LP in 30 eyes from 15 patients without blepharoptosis (control eyes) was also performed. RESULTS: A total of 107 eyes (in 87 patients) demonstrated congenital blepharoptosis and 121 eyes (in 87 patients) had acquired blepharoptosis. A moderate to severe rating of LP (rating, >/= 2) occurred in 60.7% of eyes with congenital blepharoptosis, 28.9% of eyes with acquired blepharoptosis, and 6.7% of control eyes. Lash ptosis (rating, >/= 1) was present in 91.6% of eyes with congenital blepharoptosis, 83.5% of eyes with acquired blepharoptosis, and 33.3% of control eyes. The mean LP rating was 2.1 for eyes with congenital blepharoptosis, 1.3 for eyes with acquired blepharoptosis, and 0.6 for control eyes. CONCLUSIONS: Lash ptosis was common in the patients with blepharoptosis. Moderate to severe LP occurred more commonly in all forms of blepharoptosis compared with normal eyes, with more frequent and more severe LP demonstrated in eyes with congenital blepharoptosis.

Ossifying fibromyxoid tumor of the orbit.

PURPOSE: This report describes the clinical, radiographic, and histopathologic features of the first known case of ossifying fibromyxoid tumor involving the orbit. METHODS: Case report and literature review. RESULTS: An 81-year-old woman presented with a 3-month history of diplopia, pain, and right upper eyelid swelling. CT and MRI of the orbit disclosed a 2.5-cm extra-conal mass superomedially in the right orbit, with displacement of the globe inferiorly and remodeling of the orbital roof. During surgery, the tumor was noted to be firm, gritty, and extra-periosteal in location, and the bone adjacent to the tumor was irregular and abnormal in consistency. The tumor was removed intact without difficulty. Histologic, immunohistochemical, and transmission electron microscopic examination disclosed features consistent with ossifying fibromyxoid tumor. Fourteen months after removal, the tumor recurred and the patient underwent a second excisional biopsy. The tumor recurred a second time 30 months after the first surgery. The patient underwent a third surgery to remove the tumor and received adjuvant radiation therapy. She has been free of disease for more than 18 months. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first known case of ossifying fibromyxoid tumor involving the orbit. Increased cellularity, nuclear atypia, and mitotic activity have been associated with metastatic and recurrent potential. The tumor in this case had moderate cellularity, low nuclear grade, and no mitotic figures. However, the close proximity of the tumor to important structures within the orbit precluded its excision with wide margins and may have predisposed the patient to the two episodes of local recurrence.

Autologous T-lymphocytes stimulate proliferation of orbital fibroblasts derived from patients with Graves' ophthalmopathy.

PURPOSE: Graves' ophthalmopathy (GO) affects 50% to 60% of patients with Graves' hyperthyroidism, resulting in exophthalmos, periorbital edema, pain, double vision, optic neuropathy, and loss of vision. Fibroblasts are a key autoimmune target in GO and have effector functions that contribute to GO-associated pathologic conditions, including proliferation, production of excess glycosaminoglycans, and fat deposition. GO is also characterized by autoimmune inflammation of orbital connective tissue with mononuclear cell infiltration, including T cells. METHODS: To determine whether autologous T cells can drive proliferation of orbital fibroblasts and thus contribute to GO, a novel reverse autologous mixed-cell reaction (rAMCR) was performed. Fibroblasts cultured from orbital tissue of patients with GO that was removed during orbital decompression surgery were mixed with autologous T cells, and fibroblast proliferation was determined. RESULTS: Autologous T cells stimulated proliferation of orbital fibroblasts. Fibroblasts derived from blepharoplasty fat of two different patients did not proliferate, demonstrating that the effect is specific to cells derived from deep orbital fat. Proliferation was dependent on cell contact and on major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II and CD40-CD154 (CD40 ligand) signaling. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that T cells and orbital fibroblasts participate in an antigen-dependent positive feedback loop in which presentation of autoantigens by fibroblasts via MHC class II and CD40-CD40L signaling results in T-cell activation. These activated T cells stimulate fibroblast proliferation, leading to fibroblast-associated diseases in GO. Thus, therapies that interfere with CD40-CD40L signaling, antigen expression by fibroblasts, or T-cell function may be effective in preventing progression of GO symptoms.