Conjunctival Impression Cytology and Tear Film Changes in Sarcoidosis: A Subjective and Objective Diagnosis Study

Objectives:To evaluate sarcoidosis-induced tear film changes using subjective and objective diagnostic tests, particularly conjunctival impression cytology (IC), and to compare the results with healthy individuals.Materials and Methods:This study evaluated clinical data collected between January 2019 and January 2021 from 57 right eyes of 57 sarcoidosis patients without ocular involvement (Group 1) and 33 right eyes of 33 healthy individuals with similar demographic characteristics (Group 2). The Schirmer I test, tear break-up time (TBUT), fluorescein staining, and conjunctival IC were all performed as part of the conjunctival and corneal examinations following a thorough ophthalmological examination. The Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) was used to assess subjective ocular symptoms.Results:The mean ages in Groups 1 and 2 were 49.26±3.18 and 51.91±2.89 years, respectively (p=0.720). The mean Schirmer I test, TBUT, and OSDI scores differed significantly (p<0.05 for all), with Group 1 having a significantly higher percentage of dry eyes than Group 2. Group 1 had significantly higher Nelson’s grading system grades than Group 2 based on conjunctival IC analysis (p=0.001). There were no significant differences in visual acuity (p=0.17) or intraocular pressure (p=0.14) between groups.Conclusion:Sarcoidosis patients had significantly higher Nelson grades in conjunctival IC, as well as significantly higher percentages of dry eye as determined by the Schirmer I test, TBUT, and OSDI. Reduced tear quantity and quality may destabilize the tear film layer, resulting in a variety of ocular symptoms

Fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose PET-CT for extranodal staging of non-Hodgkin and Hodgkin lymphoma

Purpose We aimed to evaluate the role of fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography-computed tomography (18F-FDG PET-CT) involving care-dose unenhanced CT to detect extranodal involvement in patients with non-Hodgkin and Hodgkin lymphoma. Materials and Methods Lymphoma patients (35 Hodgkin lymphoma, 75 non-Hodgkin lymphoma) who were referred for 18F-FDG PET-CT imaging, following a diagnostic contrast-enhanced CT (CE-CT) performed within the last month, were included in our study. A total of 129 PET-CT images, and all radiologic, clinical, and pathological records of these patients were retrospectively reviewed. Results In total, 137 hypermetabolic extranodal infiltration sites were detected by 18F-FDG PET-CT in 62 of 110 patients. There were no positive findings by CE-CT that reflected organ involvement in 40 of 137 18F-FDG-positive sites. The κ statistics revealed fair agreement between PET-CT and CE-CT for the detection of extranodal involvement (κ=0.60). The organs showing a disagreement between the two modalities were the spleen, bone marrow, bone, and thyroid and prostate glands. In all lesions that were negative at CE-CT, there was a diffuse 18F-FDG uptake pattern in the PET-CT images. The frequency of extranodal involvement was 51% and 58% in Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma patients, respectively. There was a high positive correlation between the maximum standardized uptake values of the highest 18F-FDG-accumulating lymph nodes and extranodal sites (r=0.67) in patients with nodal and extranodal involvement. Conclusion 18F-FDG PET-CT is a more effective technique than CE-CT for the evaluation of extranodal involvement in Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma patients. PET-CT has a significant advantage for the diagnosis of diffusely infiltrating organs without mass lesions or contrast enhancement compared to CE-CT

Induction and concurrent chemotherapy with concomitant boost radiotherapy in non-small cell lung cancer

This study was designed to evaluate the tolerability and therapeutic activity of paclitaxel and carboplatin combination therapy followed by radical thoracic radiotherapy with a concomitant boost technique with concurrent weekly paclitaxel in good performance status of patients with stage IIIA and IIIB non-small cell lung cancer. Patients with newly diagnosed inoperable non-small cell lung cancer received paclitaxel (100 mg/m(2)) as a 1-h infusion on d 1,8,15,28,35, and 42. Carboplatin (area under the curve of 6) was given as a 30-min infusion on d 1 and 28. Radiotherapy commenced on d 49 and was delivered with accelerated fractionation with concomitant boost at 1.8 Gy/fraction/d, 5 d/week and 1.5 Gy/fraction/d to a boost field as a second daily treatment for the last 10 treatment days to 60 Gy/35 fractions/5 wk. During radiation treatment, paclitaxel (60 mg/m2) was given as a 1-h infusion once weekly for 5 wk. Twenty-four patients were enrolled in the study. Hematologic toxicities and alopecia were the major acute toxicities during induction chemotherapy; 8.7% of the patients experienced grade 3-4 neutropenia and alopecia. The main acute toxicity of concurrent chemoradiotherapy was esophagitis; grade 3 esophagitis was documented in 23.5% of the patients. No major late toxicity was seen. Overall response rate to the treatment was 65.2%. The median and 1-yr overall-survival rates were 24.9 mo and 63.8%, respectively. The median and 1-yr progression-free survival rates were 9.0 mo and 27.8%, respectively. The main acute toxicities were hematologic toxicity, esophagitis, and alopecia. The response rate and the survival rates achieved with this treatment regimen are particularly noteworthy, especially considering the advanced stage of the patients treated

Results of Augmented Bimedial Rectus Recessions in the Treatment of Large-Angle Esotropia

Pur po se: To evaluate the surgical results of augmented bimedial rectus recession in large-angle esotropia (ET). Ma te ri al and Met hod: The records of forty-nine patients (26 male, 23 female) who underwent 6 mm and more bimedial rectus recession for large-angle deviation were reviewed. The mean follow-up period was 18.43±22.12 (between 3 and 84) months. The average of distance and near deviation amount was recorded in the postoperative 1st week and at the last visit as prism diopter (PD). Nineteen patients whose follow-up periods were longer than 1 year (mean: 40.74±20.94 months) were evaluated as a different group. Success and reoperation rates of both groups were assessed. Re sults: The mean age of the 49 patients was 7.04±8.77 (range from 1 to 67) years and the mean preoperative esodeviation amount was 49.8±11.9 (range from 35 to 85) PD. In the postoperative 1st week, the average deviation was 10.67±8.65 PD and success rate was found to be 61.1%, and in the last visit, the mean deviation angle was 9.82±9.24 PD and the success rate was 67.3%. Five of the cases (10.2%) needed reoperation. The mean age of the 19 patients with follow-up period longer than 1 year was 4.57±4.39 years (ranged between 1 and 17), and the mean preoperative esodeviation angle was 44.21±6.07 (ranged between 35 and 55) PD. In the group with longer follow-up period, the postoperative average deviation amount and success rate were 8.58±8.23 PD and 68.4% in the 1st week, and 8.05±8.02 PD and 73.7% in the last visit. Reoperation rate was found to be 21.05% (4 cases) in this group. Dis cus si on: Although augmented bimedial recession technique for the correction of large-angle ET gives good results in short periods, additional surgeries may be needed after longer follow-up periods. (Turk J Ophthalmol 2011; 41: 314-7

Efficacy of Surgical Excision in Combination with Mitomycin C and Postoperative Topical 0.002% Mitomycin C Administration for Treatment of Conjunctival Intraepithelial Neoplasia

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy of surgical excision in combination with mitomycin C (mit-C) and postoperative topical mit-C 0.002% administration for the treatment of conjunctival intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN). Material and Method: Twelve eyes of twelve patients who were histopathologically diagnosed as CIN between March 2004 and July 2008 were evaluated retrospectively for their treatment modalities and results. All lesions were excised with wide margins in combination with mit-C 0.02% application for 2 minutes. Five of 12 eyes were treated with topical mit-C 0.002% eye drops four times a day for 14 days after histopathological confirmation. Large conjunctival defects in 5 eyes were reconstructed with amniotic membrane (3 eyes) and autologous conjunctiva (2 eyes). Results: Seven patients were women and 5 were men, with a mean age of 68.37 (range: 30-94) years. The right eye was involved in 6 patients and the left one - in 6 patients. The conjunctival lesion was located on the nasal conjunctiva in 5 eyes and on the temporal one - in 7 eyes. Histopathological diagnosis was CIN in all cases. After a mean follow-up period of 41.75 months (between 10 and 62 months), one recurrence (8.3%) was noted. This case with recurrent lesion has been previously treated with surgical excision in combination with mit-C 0.02% application and the large conjunctival defect has been reconstructed with amniotic membrane. Discussion: Surgical excision in combination with mit-C and use of additional postoperative topical mit-C 0.002% in selected cases for conjunctival intraepithelial treatment provides a safe and effective cure. (Turk J Ophthalmol 2011; 41: 138-42

Strabismus and Nystagmus Following Cataract Surgeries in Childhood

Pur po se: To evaluate the incidence of strabismus in pediatric cataracts and the effects of strabismus and nystagmus accompanied by cataract on postoperative visual acuity. Ma te ri als and Met hod: Seventy-four eyes of 45 patients under 15 years old who had undergone cataract operation were included in this study. The mean postoperative follow-up period was 1.57±2.25 years (ranged between 3 months and 9 years). Twenty-nine of the patients (64%) had bilateral and 16 of the patients (36%) had unilateral cataract. Preoperative and postoperative visual acuities, as well as the presence of nystagmus and strabismus were recorded. Re sults: Seventeen of the patients (38%) had strabismus: 9 of them (53%) had esotropia (ET), and 8 of them had (47%) exotropia (XT). Fourteen (19%) of the total number of cases had nystagmus. The mean age was 5.8±4.4 years for the total group of patients, 4.6±3.0 years for patients with strabismus and 5.1±3.7 years for patients with nystagmus. Visual acuity measurements were not possible in 26 uncooperative patients. The visual acuity was 0.3 logMAR and over in 15 (31%) and 1.0 logMAR and under in 12 (25%) of the remaining of 48 eyes. Of a total of 28 eyes with strabismus, we were unable to measure visual acuity in 10 patients, and the visual acuities were 0.3 logMAR and over in 7 (39%) and 1.0 logMAR and under in 5 (28%) of the rest of the 18 patients. The mean visual acuity was significantly lower in the 8 of 14 patients with nystagmus whose visual acuity could be measured (1.25±0.45 logMAR) than in both the patients without strabismus (0.44±0.59 logMAR) and the patients with strabismus (0.66±0.56 logMAR) (p=0.019 and p=0.015, respectively). Dis cus si on: Although strabismus is seen more often in childhood cataracts compared to general population, the presence of strabismus has no negative effect on visual acuity after cataract surgery, while nystagmus is the main factor limiting the visual outcome. (Turk J Ophthalmol 2012; 42: 111-5

Resectable thymoma: Treatment outcome and prognostic factors in the late adolescent and adult age group

The aim of this study was to investigate the therapeutic outcome and prognostic factors in 36 patients with resectable thymoma who were referred to our clinic following surgical resection. The median age was 45 years, ranging from 19 to 72 years. Myastenia gravis was observed in 28 patients (77.7%). The most frequent histologic subtype was epithelial (n = 21, 58.3%), followed by the lymphocytic type (n = 6, 16.7%). Stage at presentation was distributed as stage 1, 2 patients (2.7%); stage 2, 19 patients (52.8%); stage 3, 10 (27.8%); and stage 4, 3 patients (8.3%). The majority of the patients (n = 32, 88.9%) had completely resectable disease, whereas 2 patients had microscopic and 2 more patients had macroscopic residual disease after surgery. Adjuvant radiotherapy was administered to 28 patients. After a median follow-up period of 39 months, 5 patients (16.1%) experienced recurrence. There was a significant negative correlation between recurrence and adjuvant radiation therapy (two-sided p = 0.0001). There were no objective responses to chemotherapy given to 4 patients for recurrent disease. Overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) was 82.8% and 76.6% at 5 years, respectively. Adjuvant radiotherapy had a significant association with both OS (p = 0.039) and PFS (p = 0.00001). Furthermore, recurrent disease was observed to have a significant negative impact on OS (p = 0.039). The results of this study suggest that adjuvant radiotherapy may provide survival benefit in patients with resectable thymoma, regardless of surgical margins