Terrien's marginal degeneration accompanied by latticed stromal opacities

In Vivo Confocal Microscopy of Cornea in Patients with Terrien's Marginal Corneal Degeneration

This study was aimed at observing the morphological changes of the cornea with ocular in vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM) in patients with Terrien's marginal degeneration (TMD). Ten patients (20 eyes) with TMD treated in the Department of Ophthalmology, Xiangya Hospital, and 10 healthy controls (20 eyes) were included in the current study. A detailed slit lamp microscopy, anterior segment photography, and corneal IVCM examination were performed for each eye. The density of central and marginal corneal epithelial cells, stromal cells, and subepithelial nerve fibers was compared between the two groups using the Wilcoxon rank sum test. Compared with the control group, the corneal epithelial and endothelial cells in the TMD group showed granular highly reflective substances and thinner subepithelial nerve fibers. The uneven dot-like highly reflective substances without cell structures appeared in the stromal layer of the cornea. The density of central and marginal corneal epithelial cells, stromal cells, and subepithelial nerve fibers was lower in the TMD group (p < 0.05), and they were negatively correlated with severity of the disease (p < 0.05). Our study demonstrated that the density of corneal epithelial cells, stromal cells, and sensory plexus nerve fibers was significantly reduced in the TMD group. The pathological changes were more obvious in the marginal cornea, and it is correlated with severity of the disease.

Sebaceous Carcinoma of the Ocular Region: The 2014 Professor Winifred Mao Lecture

Sebaceous carcinoma is a malignancy arising in the periocular region that can lead to blindness and tumor-related metastases. This study is a review of published literature and personal experience. This malignancy can arise from the sebaceous units in the tarsus (meibomian glands), in association with the cilia (Zeis glands), in the brow, and in the caruncle. There is a tendency for diffuse intraepithelial growth (pagetoid spread) that can be clinically invisible. Detection before lymph node metastasis is critical. This malignancy often masquerades as chronic unilateral conjunctivitis or blepharitis, typically in older patients. Management includes a 2-step approach with step 1 focused on eyelid and conjunctival map biopsies to determine the full extent of solid deep tumor and pagetoid spread. After complete review of all biopsies, step 2 is performed using local resection for all deep tumor, cryotherapy to pagetoid disease, and reconstruction. In most cases, the posterior lamella of eyelid is sacrificed with tumor removal, whereas the anterior lamella of the eyelid can be saved. After removal and cryotherapy, immediate reconstruction, using clean instruments, with buccal membrane graft for the posterior lamella and skin flap for the anterior lamella, is developed. For persistent or recurrent pagetoid disease, cryotherapy, topical mitomycin C, or plaque radiotherapy is provided. Exenteration is sometimes necessary. Sebaceous carcinoma, if detected early, can be managed with carefully planned map biopsy to determine tumor extent, followed by local resection, cryotherapy, and eyelid reconstruction. Orbital exenteration is occasionally necessary.