Metastatic neuroendocrine tumor masquerading as orbital cysticercosis

Orbital metastases secondary to neuroendocrine tumors are exceedingly rare. We present a unique case of a 30-year-old female initially presenting with fever, chills, periorbital swelling, and painful proptosis. CT orbits revealed two ovoid-shaped ring-enhancing lesions in the right lateral and superior rectus muscles and clear sinuses, atypical for infectious post-septal cellulitis. Further work-up included serologic analysis, auto-immune panel, and MRI. Further imaging showed pseudocystic orbital lesions mimicking orbital cysticercosis. Additionally, given the bilateral nature of the lesions and patient’s country of origin, this parasitic process was highly suspected. A course of albendazole and steroids led to resolution of symptoms. With a presentation at age 30, this is by far the youngest case reported in literature to date

Towards Transcervical Ultrasound Image Guidance for Transoral Robotic Surgery

Purpose: Trans-oral robotic surgery (TORS) using the da Vinci surgical robot is a new minimally-invasive surgery method to treat oropharyngeal tumors, but it is a challenging operation. Augmented reality (AR) based on intra-operative ultrasound (US) has the potential to enhance the visualization of the anatomy and cancerous tumors to provide additional tools for decision-making in surgery. Methods: We propose and carry out preliminary evaluations of a US-guided AR system for TORS, with the transducer placed on the neck for a transcervical view. Firstly, we perform a novel MRI-transcervical 3D US registration study. Secondly, we develop a US-robot calibration method with an optical tracker and an AR system to display the anatomy mesh model in the real-time endoscope images inside the surgeon console. Results: Our AR system reaches a mean projection error of 26.81 and 27.85 pixels for the projection from the US to stereo cameras in a water bath experiment. The average target registration error for MRI to 3D US is 8.90 mm for the 3D US transducer and 5.85 mm for freehand 3D US, and the average distance between the vessel centerlines is 2.32 mm. Conclusion: We demonstrate the first proof-of-concept transcervical US-guided AR system for TORS and the feasibility of trans-cervical 3D US-MRI registration. Our results show that trans-cervical 3D US is a promising technique for TORS image guidance.Comment: 12 pages, 8 figures. Accepted by Information Processing for Computer Assisted Interventions (IPCAI 2023

Undiscovered Islands - So Close, Yet So Far (Video)

A 30-year old female, visiting Canada from India, presented to ophthalmology with a 2-day history of right periorbital swelling, painful proptosis, fevers and chills. Initial examination suggested a clinical diagnosis of post-septal cellulitis with mild motility restriction, without optic nerve compromise, and patient was admitted and started on IV broad-spectrum antibiotics. Serologic analysis revealed mildly elevated CRP and white blood cell count. CT orbits revealed two ovoid-shaped ring-enhancing lesions in the right lateral and superior rectus muscles (Fig.1) and clear sinuses, atypical for infectious post-septal cellulitis, raising other considerations of the differential diagnosis. ACE, ANA, ANCA, HIV, and TB testing were negative. The patient received a course of oral steroids. As an inpatient, she was noted to have bradycardic episodes. Holter-monitor was unremarkable. Antibiotic and steroid treatment resulted in clinical improvement. MRI orbits was performed for further characterization, confirming the presence of the lesions in the right lateral and superior rectus muscles and an additional lesion in the left superior rectus muscle (Fig. 2). The largest ring-enhancing lesion in the right lateral rectus muscle did not show restricted diffusion, arguing against an abscess. Orbital biopsy was discussed, but deferred due to non-compliance. Given the bilaterality of these findings, a parasitic process, i.e. orbital cysticercosis was suspected, despite low eosinophil count and negative taenia solium serology. A course of albendazole, along with steroids was initiated, which led to the resolution of her symptoms. 8 weeks after her initial presentation, she presented to the ER with a 3-day history of nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fevers and weakness. Abdominal sonography and CT ordered for iron deficiency and elevated liver enzymes showed a 3cm mass, likely arising from the neck of the pancreas, along with numerous lesions in kidneys, liver, T12 vertebral body, and periaortic/retroperitoneal lymphadenopathy (Fig. 3). A diagnostic test was performed

Undiscovered Islands - So Close, Yet So Far (Slides)

A 30-year old female, visiting Canada from India, presented to ophthalmology with a 2-day history of right periorbital swelling, painful proptosis, fevers and chills. Initial examination suggested a clinical diagnosis of post-septal cellulitis with mild motility restriction, without optic nerve compromise, and patient was admitted and started on IV broad-spectrum antibiotics. Serologic analysis revealed mildly elevated CRP and white blood cell count. CT orbits revealed two ovoid-shaped ring-enhancing lesions in the right lateral and superior rectus muscles (Fig.1) and clear sinuses, atypical for infectious post-septal cellulitis, raising other considerations of the differential diagnosis. ACE, ANA, ANCA, HIV, and TB testing were negative. The patient received a course of oral steroids. As an inpatient, she was noted to have bradycardic episodes. Holter-monitor was unremarkable. Antibiotic and steroid treatment resulted in clinical improvement. MRI orbits was performed for further characterization, confirming the presence of the lesions in the right lateral and superior rectus muscles and an additional lesion in the left superior rectus muscle (Fig. 2). The largest ring-enhancing lesion in the right lateral rectus muscle did not show restricted diffusion, arguing against an abscess. Orbital biopsy was discussed, but deferred due to non-compliance. Given the bilaterality of these findings, a parasitic process, i.e. orbital cysticercosis was suspected, despite low eosinophil count and negative taenia solium serology. A course of albendazole, along with steroids was initiated, which led to the resolution of her symptoms. 8 weeks after her initial presentation, she presented to the ER with a 3-day history of nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fevers and weakness. Abdominal sonography and CT ordered for iron deficiency and elevated liver enzymes showed a 3cm mass, likely arising from the neck of the pancreas, along with numerous lesions in kidneys, liver, T12 vertebral body, and periaortic/retroperitoneal lymphadenopathy (Fig. 3). A diagnostic test was performed

Myelin Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein (MOG) Antibody Positive Patients in a Multi-Ethnic Canadian Cohort.

INTRODUCTION: Myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) antibody-associated disease is a recently described central nervous system (CNS) inflammatory disorder with phenotypic overlap with Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder (NMOSD). NMOSD seronegative patients, and those with limited forms of the disorder, become suspects for MOG antibody-associated disease. We describe a multi-ethnic population with MOG antibody seropositivity from the University of British Columbia MS/NMO clinic. METHODS: AQP4-antibody seronegative patients presenting 2005-2016 with CNS inflammatory disease suspicious for NMOSD, as well as 20 MS controls, were retrospectively tested for MOG-IgG1 antibodies by live cell-based assay at Oxford Autoimmune Neurology Diagnostic Laboratory (UK) and by a commercial fixed cell-based assay at MitogenDx (Calgary, Canada). Additional MOG seropositive cases were identified through routine clinical interaction (2016-2018) using one of these laboratories. Clinical data was reviewed retrospectively. RESULTS: Retrospective testing identified 21 MOG seropositives (14 by live assay only, 3 by fixed assay only and 4 by both) representing 14% of the "NMOSD suspects" cohort. One multiple sclerosis (MS) control serum was MOG seropositive. Twenty additional MOG positive cases were identified prospectively. Of 42 patients (27 female), median disease onset age was 29 years (range 3-62; 9 pediatric cases), 20 (47%) were non-Caucasian, and 3 (7%) had comorbid autoimmune disease. Most common onset phenotypes were optic neuritis (23, 55%; 8 bilateral) and myelitis (9, 21%; 6 longitudinally extensive) Three of the patients in our cohort experienced cortical encephalitis; two presented with seizures. Onset was moderate-severe in 64%, but 74% had good response to initial steroid therapy. Cumulative relapse probability for the MOG positive group at 1 year was 0.428 and at 4 years was 0.628. Most had abnormal brain imaging, including cortical encephalitis and poorly demarcated subcortical and infratentorial lesions. Few "classic MS" lesions were seen. Optic nerve lesions (frequently bilateral) were long and predominantly anterior, but 5 extended to the chiasm. Spinal cord lesions were long and short, with involvement of multiple spinal regions simultaneously, including the conus medullaris. CONCLUSIONS: Our MOG seropositive patients display phenotypes similar to previous descriptions, including cortical lesions with seizures and conus medullaris involvement. Many patients relapsed, predominantly in a different CNS location from onset. Serologic data from two different cell-based antibody assays highlight the discrepancies between live and fixed testing for MOG antibodies

Intra-Arterial Therapy and Post-Treatment Infarct Volumes: Insights From the ESCAPE Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The goal of reperfusion therapy in acute ischemic stroke is to limit brain infarction. The objective of this study was to investigate whether the beneficial effect of endovascular treatment on functional outcome could be explained by a reduction in post-treatment infarct volume. METHODS: The Endovascular Treatment for Small Core and Anterior Circulation Proximal Occlusion With Emphasis on Minimizing CT to Recanalization Times (ESCAPE) trial was a multicenter randomized open-label trial with blinded outcome evaluation. Among 315 enrolled subjects (endovascular treatment n=165; control n=150), 314 subject\u27s infarct volumes at 24 to 48 hours on magnetic resonance imaging (n=254) or computed tomography (n=60) were measured. Post-treatment infarct volumes were compared by treatment assignment and recanalization/reperfusion status. Appropriate statistical models were used to assess relationship between baseline clinical and imaging variables, post-treatment infarct volume, and functional status at 90 days (modified Rankin Scale). RESULTS: Median post-treatment infarct volume in all subjects was 21 mL (interquartile range =65 mL), in the intervention arm, 15.5 mL (interquartile range =41.5 mL), and in the control arm, 33.5 mL (interquartile range =84 mL; P0.05). Post-treatment infarct volume (P CONCLUSIONS: These results support the primary results of the ESCAPE trial and show that the biological underpinning of the success of endovascular therapy is a reduction in infarct volume. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT01778335

Infarct in a New Territory After Treatment Administration in the ESCAPE Randomized Controlled Trial (Endovascular Treatment for Small Core and Anterior Circulation Proximal Occlusion With Emphasis on Minimizing CT to Recanalization Times).

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Infarct in a new previously unaffected territory (INT) is a potential complication of endovascular treatment. We applied a recently proposed methodology to identify and classify INTs in the ESCAPE randomized controlled trial (Endovascular Treatment for Small Core and Anterior Circulation Proximal Occlusion With Emphasis on Minimizing CT to Recanalization Times). METHODS: The core laboratory identified INTs on 24-hour follow-up imaging, blinded to treatment allocation, after assessing all baseline imaging. INTs were classified into 3 types (I-III) and 2 subtypes (A/B) based on size and if catheter manipulation was likely performed across the vessel territory ostium. Logistic regression was used to understand the effect of multiple a priori identified variables on INT occurrence. Ordinal logistic regression was used to analyze the effect of INTs on modified Rankin Scale shift at 90 days. RESULTS: From 308 patients included, 14 INTs (4.5% overall; 2.8% on follow-up noncontrast computed tomography, 11.7% on follow-up magnetic resonance imaging) were identified (5.0% in endovascular treatment arm versus 4.0% in control arm [P=0.7]). The use of intravenous alteplase was associated with a 68% reduction in the odds of INT occurrence (3.0% with versus 9.1% without; odds ratio, 0.32; 95% confidence interval, 0.11-0.96; adjusted for age, sex, and treatment type). No other variables were associated with INTs. INT occurrence was associated with reduced probability of good clinical outcome (common odds ratio, 0.25; 95% confidence interval, 0.09-0.74; adjusted for age, type of treatment, and follow-up scan). CONCLUSIONS: INTs are uncommon, detected more frequently on follow-up magnetic resonance imaging, and affect clinical outcome. In experienced centers, endovascular treatment is likely not causal, whereas intravenous alteplase may be therapeutic. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT01778335