Outcomes after surgical resection of lower eyelid tumors and reconstruction using a nasal chondromucosal graft and an upper eyelid myocutaneous flap

INTRODUCTION

Surgical excision of large malignant lower eyelid tumors may cause important full-thickness eyelid defects. The reconstruction of such defects must restore the physiologic function of the eyelid and also re-establish an acceptable aesthetic result.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We report the outcomes of full-thickness excision of tumors extending over half of the horizontal lid length, followed by reconstruction using a nasal chondromucosal graft (coming from the ipsilateral ala of the nose) and an upper eyelid myocutaneous flap. Histological analysis of the specimen identified the tumor type and surgical margins for each patient.

RESULTS

A total of 25 patients were operated using this reconstruction technique between March 2009 and June 2015: 17 basal cell carcinomas, 3 spindle cell carcinomas and 5 conjunctival melanomas (out of which 2 were associated with lentigo maligna). Mean duration of follow-up after surgery was respectively 36, 41 and 17 months for each of these 3 tumor types. We found a single local tumor recurrence and this was a basal cell carcinoma in a xeroderma pigmentosum patient. After surgery, none of the patients had lagophthalmos or ocular surface complications. Only 4 patients had a 1mm scleral show postoperatively; 3 other patients developed a small retraction of the eyelid after adjuvant radiotherapy and a 1mm scleral show occurred.

CONCLUSION

In malignant tumors, complete surgical excision with histological margins adapted to tumor type prevents local recurrence in most cases. Our repair strategy of nasal chondromucosal graft and skin-muscle flap for large inferior eyelid defects provides good functional and aesthetic results.

Evisceration and ocular tumors: What are the consequences?

PURPOSE

Evisceration can be performed for blind, painful eyes. This surgery can promote the dissemination of tumor cells within the orbit if an ocular tumor has been missed preoperatively.

METHODS

We reviewed the medical records of patients who were eviscerated for blind, painful eyes between 2009 and 2014 and who were referred after the surgery to the Institut Curie or the Rothschild Foundation in Paris. We included the patients with a histological diagnosis of ocular tumor or orbital recurrence. Cytogenetic analysis was performed whenever possible.

RESULTS

Four patients turned out to have an ocular tumor after evisceration (two choroidal melanomas, a rhabdoid tumor and an adenocarcinoma of the retinal pigment epithelium); two had a history of prior ocular trauma. The tumors were diagnosed either on histological analysis of the intraocular contents (2 patients) or biopsy of orbital recurrence (2 patients). Prior to evisceration, fundus examination was not performed in 3 patients. One had preoperative imaging but no intraocular tumor was suspected. At the time of this study, 3 patients had had an orbital recurrence and died. We also found 2 patients who had an evisceration despite a past history of choroidal melanoma treated with proton beam therapy.

CONCLUSION

We showed that evisceration of eyes with unsuspected ocular malignancies was associated with a poor prognosis due to orbital recurrence and metastasis. The evisceration specimen should therefore always be sent for histological analysis in order to perform prompt adjuvant orbital radiotherapy if an ocular tumor is found.

[Aneurysmal bone cyst: A rare cause of orbital disease]

Aneurysmal bone cyst is a rare benign bone neoplasm of unknown cause. The most commonly affected anatomical sites are the vertebral column and long bones. We report two uncommon cases of primary orbital aneurysmal bone cyst presenting as an acute orbital compartment syndrome due to subperiosteal hemorrhage. Case 1 is a 45-year-old woman. Imaging studies revealed a small cystic frontal bone tumour associated with a subperiosteal hematoma. The patient achieved full visual recovery after drainage of the hematoma, with no recurrence after treatment. Case 2 is a 74-year-old woman whose visual acuity was light perception due to severe papilledema. Imaging studies of the orbit revealed a large cystic frontal bone tumor associated with a subperiosteal hematoma causing globe and optic nerve compression. Preoperative arteriography showed a moderate vascular blush. Drainage of the hematoma was performed. A local recurrence with hematoma formation occurred two years after the surgery.