Oncocytoma of the upper conjunctival fornix

Oncocytomas are tumors characterized by large, eosinophilic epithelial cells with abundant mitochondria that form ductular or glandular spaces. While these tumors have been described in other organs, those of the ocular adnexa occur infrequently, with the caruncle being the most common site of involvement. Conjunctival oncocytomas are extremely rare and are believed to arise from the ductal elements of the lacrimal gland proper and the accessory lacrimal glands of the conjunctiva. We describe the clinical and histological features of a case of an oncocytoma presenting as an atypically located superior fornix mass in a 78-yearold female, with a review of the literature

Conjunctival blue nevus

The authors report a case of a conjunctival blue nevus and review the literature pertaining to these pigmented lesions in this location, describing clinical and histological report of a patient with a blue nevus of the palpebral conjunctiva with a literature review. A 64-year-old white female was evaluated for a darkening pigmented lesion of the left lower palpebral conjunctiva. Examination revealed a 3 mm x 6mm blue-black lesion with sharply demarcated edges and an irregular border. Histopa - thology showed plump spindle-shaped, pigmented melanocytic cells revealing a branching network of dendritic processes with small, elongated, and hyperchromatic nuclei consistent with a common blue nevus. No recurrence was noted at 9-month follow-up. Blue nevi of the conjunctiva are lesions that have a low risk for malignant transformation but can appear clinically similar to primary acquired melanosis or melanoma. Blue nevi of the conjunctiva are rare and represent 0.5%-3.0% of pigmented conjunctival lesions. There was one reported case in a literature search of a malignant melanoma arising from a conjunctival cellular blue nevus. Treatment is complete wide excisional biopsy

Botulinum Toxin Injection for the Management of Refractory Filamentary Keratitis

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of onabotulinumtoxinA injection for the treatment of refractory filamentary keratitis

Fibromyxoma masquerading as dacryocystitis

Primary tumors of the lacrimal sac are extremely rare and predominantly epithelial in origin. We report a unique case of fibromyxoma of the lacrimal sac in an 86-year-old Caucasian woman who presented with 3 months of lower eyelid edema and 1 week of purulent discharge, epiphora, and acute pain. Examination revealed right lower eyelid erythema/edema and a tender, firm, palpable mass of the right lacrimal sac, which self-expressed a yellow, purulent discharge. On surgical exploration, a firm, rubbery, yellow mass was encountered and excised. Histopathologic analysis identified a nonencapsulated mass composed of loose interlacing fascicles and bundles of spindle-shaped cells with prominent myxoid changes; immunostaining was strongly positive for vimentin, weakly for smooth muscle actin, and negative for S-100 and muscle-specific actin. These findings were consistent with the diagnosis of a fibromyxoma of the lacrimal drainage system. After excision, the patient did well, with resolution of dacryocystitis

Thiazolidinedione induced thyroid associated orbitopathy

Abstract Background To describe an episode of thyroid associated orbitopathy (TAO) following the initiation of thiazolidinedione (TZD). Case presentation We report a female patient with a history of Graves' disease and stabilised thyroid associated orbitopathy for 2.5 years, who experienced rapid progression of TAO after the initiation of thiazolidinedione for glycemic control. Following the discontinuation of TZD, the patient experienced subsequent stabilisation of disease and normalization of vision. The medical history, ophthalmic findings, and clinical course are discussed. Conclusion Thiazolidinediones may exacerbate TAO, and this should be taken into consideration when selecting treatment for diabetic patients with a history of autoimmune thyroid disorders.</p

Efficient preparation of carbon fibers using plasma assisted stabilization

Carbon fibers (CFs) were prepared by the plasma-assisted stabilization (PAS) of polyacronitrile (PAN) fibers. PAS was found to be an efficient treatment for stabilizing the precursor fibers in terms of the time, cost and mechanical properties compared to conventional thermal stabilization (CTS). The efficient stabilization of PAN by a radio-frequency capacitive plasma discharge was confirmed using FT-IR and DSC. The tensile strength and modulus of CFs from PAS were superior to those of CFs from CTS. These results suggest that PAS is an efficient treatment for the manufacture of CFs, which can save time and energy