Outcomes after eye‐sparing surgery vs orbital exenteration in patients with lacrimal gland carcinoma

Lacrimal Gland Adenocarcinoma Clinicopathologic Features and Outcomes Compared With Those of Lacrimal Gland Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma

PURPOSE

Lacrimal gland (LG) adenocarcinomas (ACs) are rare, with limited data. We compared clinicopathologic features and local recurrence, distant metastasis, and survival rates between LG AC and LG adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC).

METHODS

The records of LG AC patients treated from 2008 to 2022 and LG ACC patients treated from 1998 to 2022 at the same center were retrospectively reviewed.

RESULTS

The study included 20 patients with AC; 10 de-novo AC, 10 ex-pleomorphic AC; and 51 ACC patients. The median age at diagnosis was 61 years for de-novo AC, 54 years for ex-pleomorphic AC, and 45 years for ACC. All groups had male predominance. The initial T category was T2 in 50% (5/10) of de-novo ACs; 60% (6/10) of ex-pleomorphic ACs; and 59% (30/51) of ACCs. Perineural invasion was present in 33% (5/15) of ACs and 90% (45/50) of ACCs ( p < 0.001). Of the 20 AC patients, 14 had eye-sparing surgery; 4 had orbital exenteration; and 2 had unresectable disease. All AC patients received postoperative radiotherapy and 15 (75%) received concurrent chemotherapy. Fourteen AC patients were tested for human growth factor receptor 2 expression, and 10 (71%) were human growth factor receptor 2 positive; 5 received human growth factor receptor 2-targeted therapy. AC and ACC had similar 5-year recurrence rates (20% and 33%, respectively, p = 0.31) and metastasis rates (20% and 34%, respectively, p = 0.30). de-novo AC, ex-pleomorphic AC, and ACC had similar 5-year disease-specific survival rates (80%, 79%, and 81%, respectively, p > 0.99).

CONCLUSIONS

LG AC and ACC have similar baseline clinicopathologic features, except that perineural invasion is more common in ACC, and similar recurrence, metastasis, and survival rates. Human growth factor receptor 2-targeted therapy may be appropriate in some patients with LG AC.

New Targeted Therapies and Immunotherapies for Locally Advanced Periocular Malignant Tumours: Towards a New 'Eye-Sparing' Paradigm?

The management of periocular skin malignant tumours is challenging. Surgery remains the mainstay of treatment for localised eyelid cancers. For more locally advanced cancers, especially those invading the orbit, orbital exenteration has long been considered the gold standard; however, it is a highly disfiguring and traumatic surgery. The last two decades have been marked by the emergence of a new paradigm shift towards the use of 'eye-sparing' strategies. In the early 2000s, the first step consisted of performing wide conservative eyelid and orbital excisions. Multiple flaps and grafts were needed, as well as adjuvant radiotherapy in selected cases. Although being incredibly attractive, several limitations such as the inability to treat the more posteriorly located orbital lesions, as well as unbearable diplopia, eye pain and even secondary eye loss were identified. Therefore, surgeons should distinguish 'eye-sparing' from 'sight-sparing' strategies. The second step emerged over the last decade and was based on the development of targeted therapies and immunotherapies. Their advantages include their potential ability to treat almost all tumours, regardless of their locations, without performing complex surgeries. However, several limitations have been reported, including their side effects, the appearance of primary or secondary resistances, their price and the lack of consensus on treatment regimen and exact duration. The aim of this article was to review the evolution of the management of locally advanced periocular malignant tumours over the last three decades and highlight the new paradigm shift towards the use of 'eye-sparing' strategies.

Outcomes of orbital exenteration for craniofacial lesions

BACKGROUND

Orbital exenteration (OE) is an ablative procedure used in the management of malignancies of the orbit of either primary or secondary origin. Publications evaluating this procedure have suffered from small patient numbers, heterogeneity of pathologies, and poor patient follow-up. The purpose of this study was to assess patient outcomes in a large cohort of patients undergoing OE at a tertiary cancer center.

METHODS

A retrospective review was conducted of 180 consecutive patients who underwent OE at the authors' institution. Overall survival (OS) was the primary end point measured in the study. Time to locoregional recurrence (progression-free survival [PFS]) and disease-free survival were secondary end points.

RESULTS

Between the years 1993 and 2011, 180 consecutive patients received OE for craniofacial malignancy at the authors' institution. The median follow-up for the cohort was 9.7 years (116 months). The median OS was 73 months, and the median PFS was 96 months. The presence of perineural invasion was associated with shorter OS (P = .01) and PFS (P < .01). Magnetic resonance imaging was predictive of perineural invasion (P < .01). Positive margins were associated with shorter PFS than negative margins (P < .01) but with no change in OS (P = .15). The overall complication rate was 15%. The major complication rate (Clavien-Dindo 3b or greater) was 2.8% (n = 5), and there was 1 death observed (0.6%).

CONCLUSIONS

Used judiciously in the setting of a multidisciplinary management plan, OE for tumor control is a safe therapy.

LAY SUMMARY

Between the years 1993 and 2011, 180 consecutive patients received orbital exenteration for craniofacial malignancy at the MD Anderson Cancer Center. The median follow-up for the cohort was 9.7 years. The presence of perineural invasion was associated with shorter overall survival (P = .01) and progression-free survival (P < .01). Magnetic resonance imaging was predictive of perineural invasion (P < .01). Positive margins were associated with shorter progression-free survival than negative margins (P < .01). The overall complication rate was 15%. The major complication rate (Clavien-Dindo 3b or greater) was 2.8% (n = 5).

Orbital exenteration: an updated review with perspectives

Orbital exenteration is a radical and disfiguring surgery mainly performed in specialized tertiary care centers. Orbital exenteration has long been considered the treatment of choice for managing periocular tumors invading the orbit or primary orbital malignancies. Over the past decades, attention has been directed toward reducing the perioperative morbidity by developing new surgical devices and new strategies and promoting cosmetic rehabilitation by providing adequate facial prostheses. Despite these advances, several studies have questioned the role of orbital exenteration in improving overall survival. The last decade has been marked by the emergence of a new paradigm: the "eye-sparing" strategies based on conservative surgery with or without adjuvant radiotherapy and/or targeted therapies and immunotherapies. We summarize the data on orbital exenteration, including epidemiology, etiologies, use of surgical ablative and reconstructive techniques, complications, outcomes, and the related controversies.

Incidence of Orbital Exenteration: A Nationwide Study in France over the 2006-2017 Period

PURPOSE

Orbital exenteration is a radical and disfiguring surgery mainly performed for treating orbital malignancies. Recently, several studies found favorable results in terms of overall survival with eye-sparing surgeries combined with targeted therapies and/or radiotherapy. The aim of this study was to assess the incidence of orbital exenteration and its evolution in France between 2006 and 2017.

METHODS

A national observational cohort study was conducted in France between January 2006 and December 2017. Data were collected from the national PMSI (Programme de Médicalisation des Systèmes d'Information) database provided by the CNAM (Caisse Nationale de l'Assurance Maladie). All patients undergoing orbital exenteration over the study period in France were included.

RESULTS

One thousand and fifty-seven patients were included. The mean annual number of orbital exenterations was 88.1 (63-117), corresponding to a mean incidence of 0.1/100,000 inhabitants/year. A male predominance was noted (n = 626, 59.2%). Exenteration was mainly performed between 75 and 79 years. The underlying etiology was available for 821 patients (77.7%): malignancies were the most common (n = 755; 92.0%) followed by infectious diseases (n = 16; 1.9%). Over the study period, no statistical difference in the mean incidence of orbital exenteration was found (p = .132).

CONCLUSION

The mean annual incidence of orbital exenteration was 0.1/100,000 inhabitants in France and was not significantly modified during the study period.