Seema Sen

Indications of penetrating keratoplasty in northern India.

Purpose: To identify the indications for penetrating keratoplasty in northern India. Methods: All the eye bank records of penetrating keratoplasties performed during the period from June 1997 to November 2003 at Rajendra Prasad Center for Ophthalmic Sciences were reviewed. Results: During this period, 2022 penetrating keratoplasties were performed. The leading indications for penetrating keratoplasty were corneal scarring (38.03%) followed by acute infectious keratitis (28.38%), regrafting (11.5%), aphakic bullous keratopathy (7.27%), pseudophakic bullous keratopathy (6.18%), and corneal dystrophy (3.85%). Healed infectious keratitis (19.83%) was the most common subcategory among the eyes with corneal scarring followed by traumatic corneal scars (16.71%). Healed (19.83%) and active keratitis (28.38%) together accounted for the majority of keratoplasties (48.21%). In cataract-related corneal edema (13.45%), aphakic bullous keratopathy (7.27%) was almost as frequent as compared with pseudophakic bullous keratopathy (6.18%). Conclusions: Corneal infections either active or healed are the most common indication for keratoplasty in northern India.

Invasive Aspergillosis of Orbit in Immunocompetent Patients: Treatment and Outcome

OBJECTIVE Invasive sino-orbital aspergillosis in immunocompetent patients is a rare clinical entity and often misdiagnosed. Invasive sino-orbital aspergillosis is potentially fatal; however, mortality may be avoided with timely treatment. Presently, there are no universal guidelines for its treatment. We present the clinical features, treatment, and outcome in 15 cases of invasive sino-orbital/orbital aspergillosis in healthy individuals. DESIGN Retrospective case series. PARTICIPANTS Fifteen cases of invasive sino-orbital/orbital aspergillosis in immunocompetent individuals. METHODS We retrospectively analyzed all patients with sino-orbital/orbital aspergillosis who were treated at the Dr. Rajendra Prasad Center for Ophthalmic Sciences between June 1999 and September 2009. Diagnosis was based on histopathologic documentation of tissue invasion by septate fungal hyphae with acute angle branching and presence of granulomatous inflammation. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Treatment outcome in terms of patient survival, resolution of symptoms, and resolution of orbital mass on imaging. RESULTS Fifteen patients (11 male and 4 female) were studied. Mean age of patients was 35 years. One patient declined treatment. Surgery was performed for orbital disease in 6 patients. Medical therapy consisted of intravenous amphotericin B followed by itraconazole in 10 patients, itraconazole alone in 2 patients, and voriconazole followed by itraconazole in 2 patients. Eleven patients are alive without recurrence at a median follow-up of 20 months. Of these patients, 5 had residual mass on imaging at last follow-up. One patient died of progressive disease. CONCLUSIONS This is a large case series of orbital aspergillosis reported in healthy individuals. The role of orbital surgery is not clear in treatment of this entity and requires further evaluation. Newer antifungal agents alone seem to be effective in controlling the infection.

Clinical predictors of high risk histopathology in retinoblastoma.

Previous studies show that clinical features at presentation, in retinoblastoma patients, like glaucoma and neovascularization of iris are associated with a higher incidence of high risk histopathology findings (HRF) in enucleated eyes. Herein, we analyze association between clinical features at time of enucleation and occurrence of HRF including invasion of anterior chamber, iris, ciliary body, choroid (massive), sclera, extrascleral tissue, optic nerve beyond lamina cribrosa, and optic nerve cut end, in a large series of eyes enucleated for retinoblastoma.

Correlation between Clinical Features, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, and Histopathologic Findings in Retinoblastoma: A Prospective Study

OBJECTIVE To correlate clinical features with histopathology findings in advanced intraocular retinoblastoma and to determine the diagnostic accuracy of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in detecting tumor invasion. DESIGN Prospective, nonrandomized case series. PARTICIPANTS We included 75 patients with group E retinoblastoma. METHODS Demographic and clinical features were recorded at presentation. Contrast-enhanced MRI was performed to study tumor characteristics and extent of invasion. Primary enucleation was performed and histopathologic features noted. Statistical analysis was done using the Kruskal-Wallis test to determine correlation between clinical features and histopathology. Sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of MRI in detecting tumor invasion were determined. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Significant associations between clinical findings at presentation and high-risk histopathology, and correlation between MRI results and histopathologic evidence of tumor invasion. RESULTS A significant association was found between iris neovascularization and choroidal invasion (P = 0.032), intraocular pressure and optic nerve invasion (P = 0.034), and shallow anterior chamber and iris invasion (P = 0.021). Corneal diameter did not show any significant correlation with high-risk histopathology. On MRI, tumor volume showed a significant association with optic nerve invasion (P = 0.023). The accuracy of MRI in detecting choroidal invasion was 68% (sensitivity, 60%; specificity, 80%). Prelaminar invasion was correctly identified in 9 out of 15 eyes (accuracy, 84%; sensitivity, 60%; specificity, 90%), whereas the accuracy of MRI in detecting postlaminar invasion was 76% (sensitivity, 61.9%; specificity, 81.5%). Ciliary body invasion was correctly identified in 5 out of 7 eyes (accuracy, 93.3%; specificity, 95.6%) and scleral invasion in 5 out of 6 eyes (accuracy, 98.7%; specificity, 100%). CONCLUSIONS As far as we are aware, this is the first prospective study on the correlation of clinical features and MRI findings with histopathologic risk factors in eyes primarily enucleated for retinoblastoma. Neovascularization of iris, intraocular pressure, shallow anterior chamber, and tumor volume correlated well with high-risk histopathology. Because MRI has limitations in reliably predicting microscopic infiltration of the choroid and optic nerve, decision in favor of neoadjuvant chemotherapy on the basis of suspected postlaminar invasion on MRI is not justified in the absence of histopathologic evidence of disease.

Culture of corneal limbal epithelial stem cells: experience from benchtop to bedside in a tertiary care hospital in India.

Purpose: To standardize the technique of ex vivo culture of limbal epithelial stem cells (LESCs) using locally available adapted methods and evaluate the outcome of transplantation in patients with limbal stem cell deficiency. Methods: Limbal tissue specimens were isolated from cadaveric corneoscleral rims, living related donors, or contralateral eye of the patients. Harvested tissue was cultured on denuded human amniotic membrane (dHAM) using various techniques to stabilize dHAM. The optimization of in vitro culture conditions was achieved by modifications in culture media (culture media 1 and 2). The LESCs were cultured in both types of media for 2 weeks, and growth patterns were observed. Expanded cells were further characterized by immunocytochemistry (K3/12, K19, and ABCG2) and reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (K12, Cx43, Pax6, ABCG2, p63, and K19). The cultivated epithelium was transplanted in 50 patients with total and partial limbal stem cell deficiencies. Results: Stabilization of dHAM was successfully achieved using coverslips. The outgrowth was observed within 1–3 days of culture using both types of culture media (P = 0.20), but cultures in culture medium 1 reached confluency faster than cultures in culture medium 2 (P = 0.0004). Histopathological analysis showed multilayer formation and immunostaining, and reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction data confirmed the expression of both stem cell markers (K19, p63, and ABCG2) and differentiation markers (K3, K12, and Cx43). Patients who had undergone limbal stem cell transplantation showed a stable ocular surface with improved visual acuity over a long-term follow-up period. Conclusions: LESCs were successfully cultured using locally available adapted methods, and their clinical benefits verified by transplantation.

A histopathologic analysis of eyes primarily enucleated for advanced intraocular retinoblastoma from a developing country.

CONTEXT In eyes enucleated for retinoblastoma, presence of histopathologic high-risk factors is associated with a higher risk of local recurrence and systemic metastasis. OBJECTIVE To evaluate histopathologic features in children with retinoblastoma in our population and establish relationship between age, tumor differentiation, and high-risk features. DESIGN Retrospective histopathologic analysis of 609 consecutively enucleated eyes for advanced intraocular retinoblastoma during a 10-year period. A nonparametric test was used to establish relationship between age, differentiation, and high-risk features. RESULTS Poorly differentiated retinoblastoma presented in 80.3% and well-differentiated in 19.7% of eyes. Well-differentiated tumors presented earlier (median 1.2 years) than poorly differentiated tumors (median 2.5 years) (P < .001). One hundred fourteen eyes (18.7%) had 1 and 138 (22.7%) had at least 2 high-risk histopathologic factors. Invasion of anterior chamber was found in 10.0%, iris in 10.7%, ciliary body in 6.7%, sclera in 13.7%, massive choroid in 24.6%, postlaminar optic nerve in 16.1%, resected margin of the optic nerve in 7.4%, and extrascleral tissue in 4.1% of eyes. Extensive necrosis was seen in 31.0% of eyes. Poorly differentiated tumors were significantly associated with presence of more than 1 high-risk histopathologic feature (P < .001) and extensive necrosis (P < .001). CONCLUSION Poorly differentiated tumors present at a later age and are associated with presence of multiple high-risk factors and extensive necrosis. In our population, high-risk histopathologic factors are present in a significant number of eyes. Because we have included only primarily enucleated eyes, this could truly represent the distribution of high-risk histopathologic factors in children with retinoblastoma.

Pattern of orbital exenteration in a tertiary eye care centre in India

Purpose: This study aimed to determine the clinical indications for orbital exenteration, profile of these patients and clinicopathological correlations, and to compare these results with previous published data.

Molecular Characterization of Explant Cultured Human Oral Mucosal Epithelial Cells

PURPOSE To culture and characterize oral mucosal epithelial cells (OMEC) grown on de-epithelialized human amniotic membrane (HAM) to explore their suitability as autografts in patients with bilateral ocular surface disease (OSD) and limbal stem cell deficiency. METHODS Oral biopsy samples were obtained from 20 patients undergoing oral reconstructive surgery, with informed consent and Institutional Ethics Committee approval. Morphologic studies, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), reverse transcriptase (RT) PCR and immunocytochemistry were used to characterize the OMEC. RESULTS Morphologic studies and TEM revealed a confluent sheet of proliferating, stratified oral epithelial cells connected to each other by desmosomes, containing intracellular cytokeratins and abundant mucin granules. These characteristics were further corroborated and elucidated by RT-PCR and immunocytochemistry. The presence of markers of differentiated, stratified epithelial cells (cytokeratin K3, K4, K13, and connexin 43), progenitor stem cell cell markers (p63, p75, β1-integrin/CD29, and ABCG2), and a variety of predominantly membrane-bound and a few gel-forming mucins (MUC 1, 5B, 6, 13, 15, and 16) was established. CONCLUSIONS Cultured OMEC have the potential to act as autografts for ocular surface reconstruction in patients with bilateral ocular surface disease and can prove to be particularly beneficial to ameliorate the mucin deficiency state in dry eye associated with OSD.

Simple Dacryops: A Case Series and Review of the Literature

In this prospective, small case series, 3 patients with simple dacryops were analyzed along with a review of literature. All 3 patients in this series had classical clinical features of simple dacryops. All of them underwent complete cyst removal with the aid of a cryoprobe. Histopathology was compatible with dacryops. In 2 of the 3 patients, the cyst revealed calcification, which to the best of our knowledge has not been reported. None of the patients developed a recurrence. In conclusion, simple dacryops is an easily recognized clinical entity. This entity has been infrequently reviewed in the older literature, and in the last decade only 6 cases have been reported. Most of the patients underwent complete excision of the cyst with no recurrences.

Animal Study on the Effects of Catalin on Aftercataract and Posterior Capsule Opacification

Purpose: To find out the role of Catalin in the prevention of posterior capsular opacification (PCO), we undertook this experimental study in rabbits. Methods: Twenty rabbits (10 for the Catalin group and 10 for the placebo group) were operated on for extracapsular clear lens extraction in an aseptic environment. In all cases, capsulorrhexis of 8 mm diameter was carried out. Both the test drug and placebo were given at a dose of 4 times/day from the first postoperative day for 8 weeks. Common drugs in both groups were topical corticosteroid, antibiotic and cycloplegic drops. Periodic slitlamp examinations and photographic documentations were carried out to find any evidence of aftercataract. At the end ot 8 weeks, histopathological examination was carried out to document any evidence of aftercataract. Result: Overall, evidence of aftercataract was seen in 6 rabbits in the control group and 3 in the Catalin group; the degree of PCO was higher in the placebo group. Conclusion: We found that Catalin played some role in preventing PCO.