Ultrasound biomicroscopy in the diagnosis and management of limbal dermoid

Anterior segment optical coherence tomography and ultrasound biomicroscopy for measuring thickness of corneal and bulbar conjunctival tumours

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE

Anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT) and ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM) are two non-invasive imaging techniques used for the measurement of tumour thickness in corneal and bulbar conjunctival tumours. Histopathology (HP), however, remains the gold standard for the measurement of tumour thickness. The aim of this study was to determine whether AS-OCT and UBM are as accurate as HP for measuring tumour thickness.

METHODS

Forty-two corneal and bulbar conjunctival tumours were imaged using AS-OCT and UBM. Images were assessed and tumour thickness was measured. Eleven patients subsequently underwent surgical excision. All specimens were measured during histopathological analysis. The correlation of the thickness measurement on HP to AS-OCT and UBM was then statistically analysed. In cases where the tumour was not excised, thickness measurement comparisons between AS-OCT and UBM were analysed.

RESULTS

AS-OCT and UBM measurements of tumour thickness were found to be significantly positively correlated (p=<0.001), as were UBM and HP thickness measurements (p=0.031). HP and AS-OCT measurements, however, only showed a mild but non-significant positive correlation.

CONCLUSION

Both AS-OCT and UBM are useful techniques to image and measure the thickness of corneal and conjunctival bulbar tumours. While AS-OCT provides better details than UBM, it was more limited in visualising the posterior boundary of the tumour, particularly in malignant tumours. While thickness measurements of both methodologies were correlated, neither should yet be considered as replacements to the gold standard of HP.

Preoperative evaluation and outcome of corneal transplantation for limbal dermoids: a ten-year follow-up study

AIM

To summarize preoperative evaluation and outcome of corneal transplantation for limbal dermoids for ten years.

METHODS

Eighty-five patients diagnosed with limbal dermoids and treated with corneal transplantation were analyzed retrospectively. All patients were further divided into two groups according to absence or presence of neovascularization surrounding the dermoids in the corneal stroma. Eighty-two eyes were treated with tumor excision combined with partial lamellar sclerokeratoplasty, and the other three eyes were performed by penetrating keratoplasty. The size and location of the tumor, the associated ocular and systemic anomalies, the depth of the corneal penetration of tumor tissues, the preoperative and postoperative best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), graft survival and cosmetic outcome, and surgical complications were recorded respectively.

RESULTS

The average age at surgery was 5.3y (range, 3mo-36y). The mean size of dermoids was 6.1±1.6 mm. The 43.5% of eyes (37/85) were present with hair at the surface of the dermoid and 72.9% of dermoids were located inferotemporal of the eye. Amplyopia was present in 34.1% of patients (29/85) and 9.4% of patients (8/85) had lipodermoids. Eighteen patients suffered from Goldenhar's syndrome with an accessory ear. The 75% of patients in group 1 had involvement of the corneal deep stroma down to Descemet's membrane without involving it, but 71.4% of patients had Descemet's membrane involvement in group 2. Preoperative BCVA ranged from counting fingers to 20/20. Postoperatively 81.1% had a BCVA of 20/800 or better. There was no significant difference between the post-surgical BCVA of the two groups (t=1.584, P>0.05). The grafts of 70.5% patients were present as 1+ opacity, 21.1% as 2+ opacity, 8.2% as 3+ opacity and none as 4+ opacity. Surgical complications included graft rejection, microperforation, prolonged reepithelialization, steroid glaucoma, interface neovascularization, and interface hemorrhage.

CONCLUSION

The dermoids with neovascularization surrounding them in the corneal stroma invaded deeper tissues in the cornea than those with no neovascularization surrounding them in the corneal stroma. Therefore, surgeons should take care to avoid corneal perforation during the corneal transplantation operation. The majority of patients markedly improved their cosmetic appearance after surgery.

To Study and Determine the Role of Anterior Segment Optical Coherence Tomography and Ultrasound Biomicroscopy in Corneal and Conjunctival Tumors

Purpose. To analyze and describe corneal and conjunctival tumor thickness and internal characteristics and extension in depth and size and shape measured by two noninvasive techniques, anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT) and ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM). Design. Systematic review. Methods. This systematic review is based on a comprehensive search of 4 databases (Medline, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library). Articles published between January 1, 1999, and December 31, 2015, were included. We searched for articles using the following search terms in various combinations: “optical coherence tomography”, “ultrasound biomicroscopy”, “corneal neoplasm”, “conjunctival neoplasm”, “eye”, “tumor” and “anterior segment tumors”. Inclusion criteria were as follows: UBM and/or AS-OCT was used; the study included corneal or conjunctival tumors; and the article was published in English, French, Dutch, or German. Results. There were 14 sources selected. Discussion. Several studies on the quality of AS-OCT and UBM show that these imaging techniques provide useful information about the internal features, extension, size, and shape of tumors. Yet there is no enough evidence on the advantages and disadvantages of UBM and AS-OCT in certain tumor types. Conclusion. More comparative studies are needed to investigate which imaging technique is most suitable for a certain tumor type.

Management of pediatric corneal limbal dermoids

This paper reviews the data in the published literature (PubMed from 1937 to 2011) concerning the medical and surgical management of pediatric limbal dermoids. Current standard medical treatment for grade I pediatric limbal dermoids (ie, with superficial corneal involvment) is initially conservative. In stages II (ie, affecting the full thickness of the cornea with/without endothelial involvement) and III (ie, involvement of entire cornea and anterior chamber), a combination of excision, lamellar keratoplasty, and amniotic membrane and limbal stem cell tranplantation are advocated. Combinations of these approaches seem to yield better and more stable long-term ocular surface cosmesis and fewer complications in comparison with traditional methods of excision and lamellar keratoplasty. Management of amblyopia (i.e. occlusion treatment, chemical penalization with/without spectacle wear, etc) must continue after surgical excision to yield optimal results when or if the surgery is done at a younger age.

Surgical management of pediatric limbal dermoids with sutureless amniotic membrane transplantation and augmentation

PURPOSE

To further evaluate the efficacy of a new surgical technique for removal of pediatric corneal-limbal dermoids and ocular surface reconstruction using multilayered amniotic membrane.

METHODS

Three pediatric patients with corneal-limbal dermoid (grade I) in one practice were identified in a retrospective fashion. All patients underwent deep lamellar excision followed by sutureless multilayered amniotic membrane transplantation by a single surgeon (AP). Preoperative and postoperative visual acuity, anterior segment examination, anterior segment B-scan, and cycloplegic refraction were performed.

RESULTS

Three patients with ages ranging from 6 months to 18 years had a postoperative follow-up of 9 to 12 months from the time of surgery. This surgical technique achieved rapid postoperative corneal re-epithelialization, reduced postoperative pain, and diminished postoperative scarring in all three patients. Existing preoperative astigmatism remained unchanged throughout the follow-up period. No intraoperative or postoperative complications were noted.

CONCLUSION

This surgical approach offers an alternative surgical technique to a simple excision with or without deep lamellar keratoplasty for removal of pediatric corneal-limbal dermoids (grade I). In the management of pediatric limbal dermoids (grade I), surgical excision combined with sutureless multilayered amniotic membrane transplantation eliminates painful postoperative recovery and corneal neovascularization, and can achieve an improved long-term ocular surface cosmesis.

Fibrin-glue assisted multilayered amniotic membrane transplantation in surgical management of pediatric corneal limbal dermoid: a novel approach

Purpose

To report a new surgical technique for excising pediatric corneal limbal dermoid and the post-resection ocular surface reconstruction.

Methods

We describe a method of deep lamellar excision followed by sutureless multilayered amniotic membrane transplantation in surgical management of corneal limbal dermoid.

Result

This technique achieves a rapid corneal re-epithelization, reduces post-operative pain, and will diminish post-operative scarring. Preoperative corneal astigmatism will persist.

Conclusion

This method offers an alternative surgical approach in comparison to simple excision in removal of simple pediatric corneal limbal dermoids.

Surgical outcomes of Epibulbar dermoids

PURPOSE

To evaluate results of lamellar keratoplasty in limbal dermoid.

METHODS

The ocular records were reviewed of 155 consecutive eyes with solid epibulbar dermoids that underwent lamellar keratoplasty at Dr. Rajendra Prasad Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences, All India Institute of Medical Sciences from 1977 to 1998. According to the size and location, the dermoids were managed surgically either by sectoral, annular, or central lamellar keratoplasty.

RESULTS

All but 16 eyes improved cosmetically; while all the patients showed reduction in astigmatism, 116 eyes improved functionally.

CONCLUSION

Excision with lamellar keratoplasty appears to be an effective means of management for extensive limbal dermoid. To avoid development of amblyopia, surgery at an early age is preferred.