Faculty Bibliography

PURPOSE: To report a patient with bilateral symmetrical epibulbar osseous choristoma. DESIGN: Retrospective observational case report. PARTICIPANT: One patient with bilateral symmetrical epibulbar osseous choristoma. METHOD: Retrospective review of stored office records, photographs, computed tomography (CT), and histopathological findings. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Appearance of the choristoma, CT, and histopathological findings. RESULTS: A 6-year-old female had bilateral superotemporal subconjunctival masses. Surgical excision was performed bilaterally. The lesions were encapsulated and attached to the sclera, and consisted histopathologically of epibulbar osseous choristoma. CONCLUSION: We report the first case of bilateral symmetrical epibulbar osseous choristoma without other associated choristomas. Preoperative CT imaging is helpful in assessing the extent of the tumor and planning surgery

PURPOSE: To describe the technique and results of eyelid- and conjunctiva-sparing orbital exenteration with temporalis transfer and dermis-fat graft. METHODS: Five patients who underwent this procedure were studied, based on retrospective chart review. Schematic drawings were produced to illustrate the surgical technique. RESULTS: The study included three female and two male patients with an age range of 7 to 76 years. Two patients required surgery for invasive optic nerve sheath meningioma, one for hemangiopericytoma, and the fourth for mesenchymal chondrosarcoma. The last patient had eyelid-sparing exenteration performed more than 20 years earlier for retinoblastoma and underwent a similar reconstruction. One case was complicated by infection and graft atrophy. The remaining four cases retained orbital volume and eyelid structures with a reasonable cosmetic outcome. Average follow-up period was 21 months, during which one patient had development of intracranial meningioma at the proximal end of the optic canal. CONCLUSIONS: Eyelid- and conjunctiva-sparing orbital exenteration with temporalis transfer and dermis-fat graft is a useful technique that minimizes the usual deformity and achieves good results. Case selection is emphasized, as this technique is mainly reserved for histopathologically benign orbital lesions that exhibit local aggressive behavior and for malignant lesions only if there is no eyelid, lacrimal gland, or orbital fissure involvement nor significant conjunctival or deep extension of an intraocular tumor

Adalimumab is a fully humanized IgG1 monoclonal antibody to tumor necrosis factor-a. We describe 2 patients (17 and 13 years of age) with refractory, steroid-dependent, recurrent nonspecific orbital myositis not controlled with standard immunosuppressive medications. Both improved with adalimumab treatment, allowing reduction in corticosteroid dosage without disease flare

PURPOSE: To examine the role of transnasal and transantral endoscopic surgical approaches in the management of apical orbital lesions. METHODS: Retrospective case series. RESULTS: Three patients underwent combined orbital and endoscopic surgery for treatment of apical orbital lesions. In two of these patients, the orbital apex was decompressed, which resulted in visual recovery. Using endoscopic approaches to the posterior orbit and orbital apex allowed better visualization, with minimal manipulation of tissues in an area where surgical access is limited. CONCLUSIONS: Apical orbital lesion management benefits from a multidisciplinary and individualized plan. Endoscopic approaches can be used to improve visualization and access to a difficult surgical area. They also allow extra instrumentation to be used through the relatively capacious paranasal sinuses. These advantages may obviate lateral orbitotomy in some situations. Although endoscopic techniques are useful for biopsy, debulking, and removal of orbital apex lesions, they may be more difficult to apply to an intraconal lesion at the orbital apex

A 79-year-old man with myelodysplastic syndrome developed a right optic neuropathy with optic disc edema and intractable periocular pain, one month after undergoing removal of a gangrenous gallbladder. Although results of a temporal artery biopsy were negative, he was treated with prednisone for presumed temporal arteritis. Attempts at tapering the prednisone dose led to recurrence of periocular pain. On neuro-ophthalmologic evaluation six months after the prednisone treatment was begun, he had developed right fourth and sixth cranial nerve palsies, and magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated a right orbital apex mass. Trans-sphenoidal biopsy revealed Aspergillus fumigatus. During treatment of aspergillosis, the patient developed a left hemiparesis. Magnetic resonance imaging disclosed multiple ring-enhancing cerebral masses. Biopsy revealed Nocardia asteroides. The patient was successfully treated for both infections with recovery of neurologic function except for the right optic neuropathy. Although immunocompromised patients are known to be subject to multiple infections, this may be the first reported case of concurrent sino-orbital aspergillosis and cerebral nocardiosis

BACKGROUND: Graves' orbitopathy can produce proptosis, compressive optic neuropathy, and extraocular motility abnormalities; symptoms result from an increase in orbital volume due to expansion of intraorbital fat, with or without extraocular muscle involvement. STUDY DESIGN: We conducted a chart review of patients who underwent orbital decompression to treat Graves' orbitopathy. Twenty-two orbits (13 patients) underwent orbital bone decompression, of which 17 orbits (9 patients) underwent the combined medial and lateral 'balanced' decompression. RESULTS: All patients had significant improvement with an average decrease in proptosis of 5.9 mm in the balanced decompression group. Restoration of normal optic nerve function was achieved in all patients with compressive optic neuropathy. Diplopia was noted in 4 patients (30.7%) preoperatively. Two patients had new postoperative diplopia (15.35%). CONCLUSION: In our experience, 'balanced' decompression results in a reduction of proptosis and improved optic nerve function and has a low incidence of complications

We report an effective alternative treatment of profound chronic exposure keratopathy in a proptotic eye due to intraorbital extension of basal cell carcinoma. The corneal surface gradually reepithelialized in a 6-week period after the first application of Tegaderm transparent dressing (3M, St. Paul, MN, U.S.A.) with instillation of antibiotic ointment on the ocular surface. The patient has been comfortable with an intact epithelial surface, a vascularized cornea, and nonirritated surrounding skin after changing the Tegaderm dressing daily for 15 months. There was no evidence of recurrent corneal ulceration or infiltrations. We conclude that Tegaderm represents a useful treatment of exposure keratopathy due to chronic proptosis

The orbit in Graves disease undergoes expansion in soft tissue content as a result of the infiltration of orbital fat, extraocular muscles, and the lacrimal gland. Compression of the intraorbital contents leads to disorders of the lid-corneal interface, keratopathy, motility disturbances, exophthalmos, and optic neuropathy. Orbital decompression has traditionally been reserved for those patients with unremitting optic neuropathy. This article provides a historical review of orbital decompression, as well as a review of the evolution of surgical approaches toward both soft tissue and bony decompression. Recent trends in surgical management include fat decompression, more extensive posterior sculpting of the lateral wall, and direct approaches to the medial wall. Preoperative predictors of diplopia and hypoglobus are addressed, as are the various techniques that are employed to limit new postoperative strabismus. The roles of endoscopy and combined surgical techniques are also reviewed. Expanded indications for decompression and its effect on increased intraocular pressure are discussed as well