Conduite pratique à tenir devant une exophtalmie

Correlation between Hertel exophthalmometric value and refraction in young Cameroonian adults aged 20 to 40 years

Purpose

To study the relationship between exophthalmometric value (EV) and refractive error in Cameroonian young adults.

Patients and methods

A prospective descriptive study was carried out in the ophthalmic unit of the Yaoundé Central Hospital from March to May 2015. Consenting patients aged 20–40 years with no intraocular pathology who were seen for refractive errors were included. Ocular protrusion was measured using the Hertel exophthalmometer. Automatic refraction was done following cycloplegia with cyclopentolate and tropicamide.

Results

A total of 200 patients were included (68% females and 32% males). The mean age was 27.2±6 years. Hyperopia was the most common refractive error (51%), followed by hyperopic astigmatism (19.3%). EV varied between 9 mm and 23 mm, with a mean of 14.8±2.5 mm in the right eye and 15.0±2.5 mm in the left eye. The mean EVs were 17.10±2.80 mm in myopia, 14.24±1.92 mm in hyperopia, 16.72±2.58 mm in myopic astigmatism, 14.07±2.19 mm in hyperopic astigmatism, and 14.77±2.40 mm in mixed astigmatism. The spherical value had a negative correlation with EV (P=0.0000).

Conclusion

The mean EV of this Cameroonian population is smaller than that of other populations and is consistent with the known characteristic hyperopic status of the population. A study on a larger sample will determine the normative data of absolute and relative EV in our setting.

[Adult orbital tumors]

Orbital tumors are a rather frequent pathology. Their diagnosis and treatment may be difficult. They can be benign or malignant. All the tissues of the orbit can give rise to a tumor, resulting in their large number. Among the benign tumors, we have meningiomas and cavernous hemangiomas, and for the malignant tumors, lymphomas, metastasis, ENT tumors and lacrimal gland tumors in the adult. Usually the signs are nonspecific, with proptosis, oculomotor disturbance, inflammatory signs, pain and sometimes a mass. Imaging (CT, MRI and color Doppler ultrasound) shows the tumor, its location, extent and possible metastases. Biopsy and anatomic and cytopathologic examination confirm the type of benign or malignant tumor. Based on these three elements: clinical appearance, imaging and histology, the tumor will be treated, usually by a surgical approach according to the recommendations of a multidisciplinary tumor conference. Radiation therapy and chemotherapy may supplement the treatment.

[Posttraumatic enophthalmos correction by bone graft: Why the unpredictable results?]

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY

Posttraumatic enophthalmos cause complex cosmetic problems to fix. In order to get better results, we wanted to calculate the volume of parietal bone graft needed to be put in place, know where to place it in orbit and study soft tissues' participation.

PATIENTS AND METHOD

In a retrospective study, we have calculated on scanner the volume of bone and soft tissue as well as the volume and the location of the graft. We have compared, between two groups ("good result" and "insufficient result"), graft volumes, taking into account differences in bone's volume between the healthy and the traumatized orbit. A comparison of the locations of the graft was also made. We were trying to find out if these factors were involved in the quality of the result.

RESULTS

Twenty-nine surgeries on 24 patients were analyzed. The average bone's volume of an orbit with enophthalmos was 24.76 cm(3) for 17.12 cm(3) of soft tissue. Retro-lens distance was the most reliable measurement method of enophthalmos (P=0.001). There was a trend to a more substantial over-correction in the group "good result". A significant increase (P=0.0008) of soft tissue volumes in the traumatized orbit was found.

CONCLUSION

This last result is surprising. Many authors believe that there is a scar retraction of soft tissues. But Kronish et al. showed an increase of the fat density and connective tissue. This, together with the assumption of a weathering of the ligament suspension of the globe, may affect our aesthetic results. MRI, ultrasound and anatomopathological studies would allow a better understanding of the fat, muscle and ligament pathophysiologies of an orbit with enophthalmos.

[Dural arteriovenous fistula of the sigmoid sinus with a clinical expression on the opposite eye: A case report]

We report the case of an 87-year-old patient who developed a dural arteriovenous fistula of the sigmoid sinus with progressive exophthalmia in the opposite eye. The patient had a unilateral decrease in visual acuity; the vessels of the conjunctiva were dilated, and a progressive central retinal vein occlusion occurred in the left eye. A dural carotid cavernous fistula of the right sigmoid sinus was diagnosed with an angiography exam and was successfully treated with embolization of the arteriovenous shunt using Onyx(®). A central partial facial nerve paralysis occurred after embolization and spontaneously resolved in 6 months. Six months after the treatment, visual acuity improved to 7/10 and the exophthalmia and central retinal vein occlusion signs regressed. Dural arteriovenous fistulae are abnormal shunts between a collateral vessel of the carotid artery and the cavernous sinus; the unilateral pulsating exophthalmia is the most frequent associated symptom. Cerebral MRI is useful to analyze indirect signs of the arteriovenous shunt showing an abnormal dilatation of the veins, but angiography of the carotid artery is essential to confirm the diagnosis. Furthermore, it allows treatment of the fistula at the same time, the main complication being the embolization of normal vessels close to the abnormal shunt. The clinical expression of the dural arteriovenous fistula on the opposite eye is infrequent and is related to the presence of complex septae within the cavernous sinus, resulting in a bilateral drainage of the cerebral venous system. The early diagnosis and management of the disease is necessary to improve the visual prognosis.