Cutaneous Mucormycosis of the Eyelid Treated With Subcutaneous Liposomal Amphotericin B Injections.

Cutaneous mucormycosis is a rare, opportunistic fungal infection that typically affects immunocompromised hosts. Current treatment consists of systemic antifungal therapy, surgical debridement, and when applicable, restoration of immune function. Despite intervention, the morbidity and mortality of invasive fungal disease remains high. There are few reports of primary or secondary cutaneous mucormycosis involving the ocular adnexa. The authors describe the course of 2 children with cutaneous mucormycosis of the eyelid treated with subcutaneous liposomal amphotericin B (LAmB) injections (3.5 mg/ml) in an off-label application as an adjunct to debridement and systemic antifungal therapy. To the authors' knowledge, these are the first 2 cases of invasive fungal disease involving the eyelid treated with subcutaneous LAmB injections, and the first reported case of disseminated fungal infection with secondary cutaneous involvement of the eyelid.

Augmentation of telemedicine post-operative follow-up after oculofacial plastic surgery with a self-guided patient tool.

PURPOSE: This study evaluates a web-based tool designed to augment telemedicine post-operative visits after periocular surgery. METHODS: Adult, English-speaking patients undergoing periocular surgery with telemedicine follow-up were studied prospectively in this interventional case series. Participants submitted visual acuity measurements and photographs via a web-based tool prior to routine telemedicine post-operative visits. An after-visit survey assessed patient perceptions. Surgeons rated photographs and live video for quality and blurriness; external raters also evaluated photographs. Images were analyzed for facial centration, resolution, and algorithmically detected blur. Complications were recorded and graded for severity and relation to telemedicine. RESULTS: Seventy-nine patients were recruited. Surgeons requested an in-person assessment for six patients (7.6%) due to inadequate evaluation by telemedicine. Surgeons rated patient-provided photographs to be of higher quality than live video at the time of the post-operative visit (p < 0.001). Image blur and resolution had moderate and weak correlation with photograph quality, respectively. A photograph blur detection algorithm demonstrated sensitivity of 85.5% and specificity of 75.1%. One patient experienced a wound dehiscence with a possible relationship to inadequate evaluation during telemedicine follow-up. Patients rated the telemedicine experience and their comfort with the structure of the visit highly. CONCLUSIONS: Augmented telemedicine follow-up after oculofacial plastic surgery is associated with high patient satisfaction, rare conversion to clinic evaluation, and few related post-operative complications. Automated detection of image resolution and blur may play a role in screening photographs for subsequent iterations of the web-based tool.

Plexiform Neurofibroma With Activating KRAS Mutation and Segmental Presentation Involving the Unilateral Eyelid.

Plexiform neurofibromas are classically thought to be pathognomonic for neurofibromatosis type 1. However, isolated forms may occur, particularly as a manifestation of segmental neurofibromatosis related to postzygotic mosaicism in the NF1 gene. Most cases occur on the head and neck, trunk, and extremities with very few cases reported in the periorbital area. The authors report a case of plexiform neurofibroma with perineuriomatous features of the right upper eyelid in a patient with no other stigmata of neurofibromatosis. While suggestive of segmental neurofibromatosis, genetic analysis revealed activating KRAS mutation and inactivating mutation in PHF6 with no evidence of NF1 mutation in germline or tumor tissue. Neither KRAS nor PHF6 have been previously reported in association with neurofibroma.

Tocilizumab for the Management of Thyroid-Associated Orbitopathy.

PURPOSE: To describe the efficacy of tocilizumab in the treatment of a cohort of patients with active thyroid-associated orbitopathy. METHODS: Patients were identified with active thyroid-associated orbitopathy who were intolerant of or had progression of disease despite systemic corticosteroids and subsequently were treated with tocilizumab between January 2015 and December 2020. Clinical Activity Score, Thyroid-Associated Ophthalmopathy Scale score, and thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulin levels were assessed prior to initiation of tocilizumab, following the first dose, and after the completion of treatment. RESULTS: Eleven patients were candidates for and underwent treatment with tocilizumab, 9 of which met criteria for analysis. Average age was 55.6 years. Average time between onset of active thyroid-associated orbitopathy and completion of tocilizumab was 6.5 months. Average number of infusions was 4.2. There was a statistically significant reduction in Clinical Activity Score, Thyroid-Associated Ophthalmopathy Scale score, and thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulin levels when comparing pre-treatment values (mean Clinical Activity Score 6.78 ± 1.09, mean Thyroid-Associated Ophthalmopathy Scale score 10.2 ± 1.92, mean thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulin level 440.6 [%]) to values immediately following completion of treatment (mean Clinical Activity Score 0.44 ± 0.53, mean difference 6.3 points, p < 0.001 [95% CI, 5.5-7.2]; mean Thyroid-Associated Ophthalmopathy Scale score 1.2 ± 1.09, mean difference 9.0 points, p < 0.001 [95% CI, 7.2-10.8]; mean thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulin level 200.7 [%], mean difference 239.9 [%], p = 0.001 [95% CI, 124.3-355.4]). One patient had elevation of cholesterol following therapy induction. Patients were followed for an average of 23.6 months after treatment. No patients had recurrence of active disease after completion of tocilizumab. CONCLUSIONS: This study supports the use of tocilizumab as a therapy for the inflammatory phase of thyroid-associated orbitopathy.