Is computed tomography tractography reliable in patients with anterior abdominal stab wounds?

Introduction

The current literature and guidelines recommend that determination of peritoneal violation is done first in cases of anterior abdominal stab wounds. The primary endpoint of this study was to determine the reliability of computed tomographic (CT) tractography to assess peritoneal violation in anterior abdominal stab wounds. The secondary endpoint is to compare local wound exploration between conventional CT and CT tractography in the evaluation of peritoneal violation.

Combined excision, cryotherapy, and intraoperative mitomycin C (EXCRIM) for localized intraepithelial and squamous cell carcinoma of the conjunctiva

Background

To report the results of patients undergoing combined excision, cryotherapy, and intraoperative mitomycin-C (EXCRIM) for primary ocular surface squamous neoplasia (OSSN)

Methods

A retrospective review of a non-comparative interventional case series. Histopathologically confirmed primary localized (less than four clock hours) OSSN treated with EXCRIM using adjuvant 0.02 % mitomycin-C (MMC) were included in the study. The main outcome measures were recurrence and complications related to MMC.

Results

The study enrolled 28 eyes of 28 patients with OSSN with a median age of 64.5 (range 43 to 84) years. The mean tumor size was 6.9?×?4.35 mm. There was corneal involvement in 23 of 28 (82 %). Seven patients (21 %) had delayed epithelial healing. Two of eight patients (25 %) with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) had positive lateral margins. There were no recurrences over a mean follow-up of 49 months (range 24 to 96).

Conclusion

The excision of OSSN combined with cryotherapy and intraoperative MMC is effective with a low recurrence rate. Long-term follow-up yielded favorable results.     

Dysgerminoma of the ovary: A retrospective study

A retrospective analysis of 22 patients with ovarian dysgerminoma who were treated between 1980 and 1987 was carried out. The median age at presentation was 24.5 years. A total of 15 patients were in stage I, one patient was in stage II and six patients were in stage III. Bilateral ovarian involvement was present in four patients. Conservative surgery was carried out in nine patients and 11 patients underwent radical surgery. Two patients had biopsy only. Fourteen patients received adjuvant radiotherapy and three patients received salvage radiation for recurrent disease. The 10-year actuarial survival rate was 81.8%. All 15 patients in stage I were alive and disease-free at a median follow-up of 125 months. Four patients (one in stage II and three in stage III) died of progressive or recurrent abdominopelvic disease. Pelvic recurrence occurred after conservative surgery in two patients in stage IA who had a tumour size greater than 10 cm, but they were salvaged with radical surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. There were seven patients aged 20 years or less. All were alive and disease-free at a median follow-up of 127 months.     

Gamma-knife-based stereotactic radiosurgery for medium- and large-sized posterior uveal melanoma

Background

This study investigated the use of gamma-knife-based stereotactic radiosurgery (GKRS) for medium- and large-sized posterior uveal melanoma treatment.

Methods

We assessed 50 eyes from 50 consecutive patients with uveal melanoma who were treated with GKRS. All tumors met the criteria for medium- and large-sized uveal melanomas. Patients underwent a single session treatment under local anesthesia; the prescribed radiation dose at the tumor periphery was standardized to 30 Gy at the 50 % isodose field for all patients. The main outcomes were local tumor control, eye retention, and survival rates.

Results

The median follow-up time was 40 months (16–78 months). The baseline mean tumor diameter was 10.3 mm (7.1–15.7 mm) and the apical tumor height was 8.7 mm (4.1–16.8 mm). After treatment, the mean tumor diameter was 8.7 mm (5.5–12.0 mm) and the tumor height was 6.2 mm (0.5–11.2 mm). Changes in both tumor height and diameter were statistically significant (p?<?0.001). The tumor control rate was 90 %, and the eye retention rate was 82 %. A total of nine patients (18 %) developed metastasis, and seven (14 %) died due to metastasis during follow-up. Cataracts (34 %) and radiation maculopathy (30 %) were the most frequent complications, and 14 % of patients developed neovascular glaucoma. Visual acuity (VA) decreased significantly after treatment (p?<?0.0001).

Conclusion

Treatment using low doses of GKRS, (30 Gy) is an eye-sparing outpatient option for patients with medium- or large-sized posterior uveal melanomas who are not eligible for brachytherapy or particle therapy. Complications, particularly impaired VA, should be taken into consideration.     

Phacoemulsification with topical anesthesia: Resident experience

PURPOSE: To compare the intraoperative and postoperative complications and outcomes of phacoemulsification performed by residents using topical and retrobulbar anesthesia. SETTING: Two university ophthalmology departments. METHODS: One hundred fifty phacoemulsification procedures were performed by 3 residents who used retrobulbar anesthesia (retrobulbar group), and 146 phacoemulsification procedures were performed by another 3 residents who used topical anesthesia and who had no experience with retrobulbar or peribulbar anesthesia (topical group). Case notes were prospectively compared. The data analyzed included the ocular history, intraoperative and postoperative complications, and final best spectacle-corrected visual acuity (BSCVA). RESULTS: There were no differences between the 2 groups in complication rates. Anterior capsule tears occurred in 8 eyes (5.3%) in the retrobulbar group and 7 eyes (4.7%) in topical group. Capsulorhexis was continuous but not curvilinear in 14 eyes (9.3%) and 12 eyes (8.2%), respectively. Capsulorhexis tear or posterior capsule rupture that necessitated conversion to extracapsular cataract extraction occurred in 3 eyes (2.0%) in the retrobulbar group and in 1 eye (0.6%) in the topical group. Posterior capsule rupture with vitreous loss occurred in 10 eyes (6.6%) and 9 eyes (6.1%), respectively. Loss of lens fragments in the vitreous cavity occurred in 3 eyes (2.0%) and 4 eyes (2.7%), respectively. The 63 postoperative complications (41 eyes [27.3%], retrobulbar group; 22 eyes [15.0%], topical group) included cystoid macular edema, intraocular lens decentration, endophthalmitis, bullous keratopathy, transient intraocular pressure elevation, temporary corneal edema, and vitreous hemorrhage. Some cases had more than 1 complication. The BSCVA, including in eyes with preexisting ocular pathology, was 20/40 or better in 86.7% in the retrobulbar group and 84.9% in the topical group. CONCLUSION: When supervised and in selected patients, residents who have no retrobulbar or peribulbar anesthesia experience can safely perform phacoemulsification using topical anesthesia.     

Screening for retinopathy of prematurity in a tertiary care newborn unit in Turkey: frequency, outcomes, and risk factor analysis

PURPOSE: To report the frequency, risk factors, and outcomes of screening for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). METHODS: Data of neonates with a gestational age of 34 weeks or less were analyzed and the predictors on the development of ROP were determined by using logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Of the 318 neonates, the frequency of ROP was 37.1% for any stage and 7.2% for stage 3 or greater. Treatment was needed in 16.1% of neonates with ROP. No treatment was required in neonates with a gestational age of greater than 32 weeks. Oxygen therapy, sepsis, gestational age of 32 weeks or less, and birth weight of less than 1,250 g were determined as the independent risk factors. CONCLUSIONS: Although frequency of ROP in Turkey is similar to that in the United States, the rate of severe ROP necessitating treatment seems to be higher in Turkey. Neonates with a gestational age of 32 weeks or less, a birth weight of less than 1,250 g, sepsis, and oxygen therapy may have a greater risk of developing ROP and screening should be intensified in the presence of these risk factors.     

Cutaneous Crohn''s disease mimicking Melkersson–Rosenthal syndrome: treatment with methotrexate

A woman with a 5-year history of unilateral orofacial granulomatosis required repeated evaluations (including sequential colonoscopies) to establish the diagnosis of cutaneous Crohn's disease, a condition that proved responsive to low doses of oral methotrexate administered weekly. To our knowledge this is the first report describing the use of methotrexate for treatment of orofacial granulomatosis caused by underlying Crohn's disease.     

Naevus lipomatosus cutaneous superficialis

A young male presenting with cutaneous papules and plaques in a segmental distribution in the pelvic girdle area is reported. The clinical features were suggestive of naevus lipomatosus cutaneous superficialis, but diagnostic biopsy is essential to demonstrate the typical histopathological features and exclude important differential diagnoses such as segmental neurofibromatosis.     

Is it possible to predict para-aortic lymph node metastasis in endometrial cancer?

Objective

The purpose of this study was to determine the histopathologic risk factors for pelvic lymph node (PLN) and para-aortic lymph node (PALN) metastasis in endometrial cancer (EC) and to identify in which patients PALN dissection should be performed.

Study design

A total of 204 consecutive patients, with EC and underwent systematic pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy extending to the renal vessels, were studied retrospectively. Statistical significance between risk factors was examined using multivariant logistic regression analysis.

Results

Cell type, depth of myometrial invasion and tumor size were found to be independently related to PLN metastasis. PLN metastasis in any site and lymphovascular invasion (LVSI) were independent prognostic factors for predicting PALN metastasis. The sensitivity, specificity and the NPV of PLN metastasis for detecting PALN metastasis were 80.8%, 89.3% and 97%, respectively. Furthermore, the 204 patients were divided into two groups according to the presence of one of these following factors: (1) non-endometrioid cell type, (2) PLN metastasis, (3) LVSI, (4) adnexal metastasis and (5) serosal involvement. Among these 204 patients, 104 had one or more of these factors (group A), and 100 patients had none of these factors (group B). PALN metastasis was significantly greater in group A, compared to group B. The sensitivity and the NPV of these combined prognostic factors for predicting PALN metastasis were 96.2% and 99%, respectively.

Conclusions

Presence of non-endometrioid cell type, PLN metastasis, LVSI, adnexal metastasis or serosal involvement diagnosed by frozen section (FS) seem to be poor prognostic factor for PALN metastasis in EC. Also, PALN dissection should be extended to the level of the renal vessels in all patients who will undergo PALN dissection, due to frequent involvement of the supramesenterial region.