Incidental finding of double nodular microscopic hyperplasia versus adenoma of the retinal pigment epithelium in an eye eviscerated for phthisis bulbi

Neoplasms of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) are very rare and can clinically simulate choroidal melanoma. The clinical, histopathological and immunohistochemical features of incidental double pseudo-neoplastic proliferation of the RPE in an eviscerated eye for phthisis bulbi are reported. The differential diagnosis of RPE neoplasms and the utility of histopatological examination of eviscerated/enucleated eyes are discussed.

Asymptomatic lacrimal flow abnormalities in patients with septal deviations and turbinate hypertrophy

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to investigate the lacrimal flow in patients affected by septal deviations and turbinate hypertrophy and to evaluate changes after rhinoseptoplasty with dacryocystography (DCT) and computed tomographic dacryocystography (CT-DCT).

METHODS

The study prospectively recruited patients having septal deviations with or without turbinate hypertrophy who underwent surgical evaluation for correction of their respiratory symptoms and were not referred for epiphora. Patients were excluded if they had undergone surgery for cranial vault defects or had experienced septal deviations after traumatic accidents. All patients were studied with DCT and CT-DCT preoperatively and postoperatively.

RESULTS

A total of 24 patients (10 men and 14 women) were recruited for the study. Of these patients, 11 (45.8%) had a reduced flow of the medium contrast due to a partial obstruction at the level of the internal ostium. All 11 patients had septal deviations and turbinate hypertrophy, whereas 8 patients had a unilateral obstruction (72.7%), and 3 patients had a bilateral obstruction (27.3%). All flows were corrected after surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

The safe and well-tolerated radiologic techniques performed in this study provided detailed imaging of the lacrimal outflow system. A high incidence of partial obstruction to the internal ostium was found in patients with septal deviations, turbinate hypertrophy, and no lacrimal symptoms, suggesting a frequent presymptomatic condition.

[Significance of the echo-Doppler method in the study of hemodynamic changes of the ophthalmic artery after ligation of the superficial temporal artery]

The authors report the utility of the Echo-doppler and Doppler CW exams before and after the surgical therapy of the chorioretinal and optic nerve's hypoperfusion conditions. They have studied 112 patients affected by these pathologies and evaluated the blood flow's modifications. This exam is even usefull for the patient's selection before surgery without any serious complications.