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Biomedical subjects

C A Gorman

Publications and source records attributed to C A Gorman.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Diagnostic criteria for Graves' ophthalmopathy.

PURPOSE: To propose criteria for the diagnosis of Graves' ophthalmopathy. METHODS: We reviewed the evolution of nomenclature describing Graves' ophthalmopathy. and the diagnostic schema used in key published reports. RESULTS: A laboratory test or clinical finding pathognomonic for Graves' ophthalmopathy currently is not available or recognized. Extant diagnostic criteria may exclude appropriate cases. CONCLUSIONS: Graves' ophthalmopathy is considered to be present if eyelid retraction occurs in association with objective evidence of thyroid dysfunction or abnormal regulation, exophthalmos, optic nerve dysfunction, or extraocular muscle involvement. The ophthalmic signs may be unilateral or bilateral, and confounding causes must be excluded. If eyelid retraction is absent, then Graves' ophthalmopathy may be diagnosed only if exophthalmos, optic nerve involvement, or restrictive extraocular myopathy is associated with thyroid dysfunction or abnormal regulation and if no other cause for the ophthalmic feature is apparent.

Eye Diseases↗

Distant metastases in papillary thyroid carcinoma: 100 cases observed at one institution during 5 decades.

The present study was designed to define the factors that predict survival in patients with distant metastases (DM) from papillary thyroid carcinoma. We performed a retrospective review of the records of 100 consecutive patients (45 females and 55 males; age range, 8-91 yr) who developed DM after primary treatment at our institution from, 1940-1989. Median follow-up for the 20 survivors was 21 yr (range, 3-38). Cause-specific survival rates at 5, 10, and 15 yr were 40%, 27%, and 24%, respectively, and were not significantly different between the eras 1940-1954, 1955-1969, and 1970-1989 (P = 0.74). By univariate analysis, age at diagnosis of DM was the most important predictor of survival (P < 0.0001), with improved survival occurring in younger patients. Tumor-related factors associated with improved survival included complete resection of the primary tumor (P < 0.005), histological grade 1 (P = 0.006), diploid nuclear DNA (P = 0.03), and lung as first site of DM (P = 0.018). By univariate analysis, use of radioiodine therapy was associated with improved survival (vs. other forms of therapy, P < 0.001). However, by multivariate analysis only age, site of DM, and degree of extrathyroidal invasion of the primary tumor were identified as significant predictors of survival. None of the four treatment variables (external radiation, surgery, chemotherapy, or radioiodine) was a significant predictor of survival in the Cox model. Our retrospective data indicate that 1) outcome has changed little over 5 decades for patients with DM from papillary thyroid carcinoma; and 2) current forms of therapy do not appear to impact on survival.

Adolescent↗

Predictors of response to transantral orbital decompression in severe Graves' ophthalmopathy.

OBJECTIVE: To identify factors that may help predict the outcome after transantral orbital decompression in Graves' ophthalmopathy. DESIGN: A retrospective study was conducted of 428 patients who had undergone an initial transantral orbital decompression for severe Graves' ophthalmopathy at the Mayo Clinic between November 1969 and May 1989. MATERIAL AND METHODS: With use of logistic regression analysis, we assessed the preoperative characteristics, the early postoperative results, and the follow-up questionnaire data (obtained a median of 9.5 years postoperatively) from 304 female and 124 male patients with Graves' ophthalmopathy who had undergone transantral orbital decompression at a median age of 53 years. RESULTS: On multivariate stepwise regression analysis, young age, male sex, and long duration of eye symptoms were predictors of severe initial proptosis (P < 0.001). The only independent predictors of greater postoperative recession of proptosis were severity of initial proptosis and longer interval between operation and postoperative examination (P < 0.001). Patients with the most reduction of proptosis had the greatest improvement in visual acuity but more chance for postoperative development of continuous diplopia. Failure of prior corticosteroid or orbital radiation therapy did not affect the degree of recession of proptosis or improvement in visual acuity. On multivariate analysis for predictors of long-term overall patient satisfaction, only young age of the patient was of borderline significance (P = 0.05), and the only significant predictor of satisfaction with the postoperative eye appearance was an operation done primarily for cosmetic purposes (P = 0.012). CONCLUSION: Although various factors may influence the outcome of orbital decompression in patients with Graves' ophthalmopathy, this study showed that the more pronounced the initial proptosis, the greater the degree of recession postoperatively. A higher degree of reduction of proptosis is associated with better visual acuity but also a greater likelihood of development of continuous diplopia.

Adolescent↗

Parathyroid imaging with technetium-99m-sestamibi: an initial institutional experience.

BACKGROUND: The ideal method for preoperative localization of abnormal parathyroid glands has yet to be determined. Technetium-99m-sestamibi, previously used for myocardial perfusion studies, has recently been introduced for parathyroid imaging. METHODS: From August 1991 to September 1993, 44 patients underwent Tc-99m-sestamibi scanning (45 scans) and surgical exploration for hyperparathyroidism at our institution. These 44 patients form the database for this retrospective study. Twenty-eight patients had persistent hyperparathyroidism, six had recurrent disease, three had prior thyroid operation, and seven underwent first time neck operations. The nature of disease was complex and varied: single gland, 26; primary hyperplasia, 5; multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1, 5; familial, 3; secondary or tertiary, 5. One patient with single gland disease and one patient with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 had parathyroid carcinoma. All patients had biochemical confirmation of hyperparathyroidism. RESULTS: Twenty-six (58%) of 45 scans accurately predicted the location(s) of all abnormal gland(s) involved (true positive). Surgical removal of these glands was curative. Sixteen (36%) of 45 scans were false negative because they did not show all abnormal glands involved; however, 7 of these 16 scans did localize at least one abnormal gland. The overall sensitivity of this test was 62% when all abnormal glands were considered but increased to 79% with the demonstration of at least one abnormal gland. These values increased to 80% and 90% (p = 0.03), respectively, in the last 20 patients when the injected dose of Tc-99m-sestamibi was increased from 10 to 15 mCi. Thirty-seven of 44 patients were cured after operation. Six of the seven patients who experienced surgical failure had multigland disease, one of which was malignant. Sestamibi scans correctly identified abnormal cervical glands in 18 (58%) of 31 patients and abnormal mediastinal glands in six (75%) of eight patients. CONCLUSIONS: Tc-99m-sestamibi scanning is helpful in the reoperative setting as an adjunct to localizing abnormal parathyroid tissue. A higher percentage of positive tests occurs in patients with mediastinal and single gland disease. A higher dose of Tc-99m-sestamibi (15 mCi) significantly improves test sensitivity.

Adult↗

Graves ophthalmopathy. Results of transantral orbital decompression performed primarily for cosmetic indications.

PURPOSE: Transantral orbital decompression is effective treatment for excessive proptosis and optic neuropathy due to Graves ophthalmopathy. In these sight-threatening circumstances, patients willingly accept the side effects of orbital decompression. When transantral orbital decompression is performed for cosmetic indications, patients' acceptance of side effects may be different. This study reports detailed results of transantral decompression for 34 patients in whom the indications were primarily cosmetic. METHODS: The medical records of 34 patients with Graves ophthalmopathy who had transantral orbital decompression primarily for cosmetic indications were reviewed. Preoperative and postoperative physical features of the eyes were compared. Long-term assessment was formulated from follow-up examination and a follow-up questionnaire. RESULTS: The most notable improvement was in the reduction of proptosis (mean decrease, 5.2 mm). The frequency of asymmetry of proptosis, however, did not improve. Asymmetry was more than 1 mm in 44% of patients preoperatively and in 54% postoperatively. Although the palpebral fissure was decreased by an average of 2.7 mm, upper lid retraction became worse in 12 (43%) of 28 eyes. Of 15 patients who had no diplopia preoperatively, continuous diplopia developed postoperatively in 73%. The patients underwent a total of 37 eye muscle operations and 31 eyelid operations after decompression. Of 29 patients who responded to a long-term follow-up questionnaire, 69% were satisfied with the appearance of the eyes and 31% found it acceptable. No patient was dissatisfied. Symptomatic diplopia was present in 6.9% of patients at the time of the follow-up questionnaire. CONCLUSION: Transantral orbital decompression performed for cosmetic indications in Graves ophthalmopathy may need to be followed by eye muscle and lid operations. These procedures result in a high degree of patient satisfaction. However, a small percentage of patients experience persistent diplopia, despite multiple eye muscle procedures.

Adolescent↗

Results of transantral orbital decompression in 428 patients with severe Graves' ophthalmopathy.

We reviewed records from 428 consecutive patients with severe Graves' ophthalmopathy to determine early and late results after transantral orbital decompression. Optic neuropathy was present in 217 (50.7%) patients. Post-operatively, 402 (89%) of 453 eyes with preoperative visual acuity worse than 20/20 improved or remained the same. Visual field scotomas improved or resolved in 245 (91%) of 269 eyes tested pre- and postoperatively. Preoperative papilledema resolved or improved in 99 (94%) of 105 eyes, and preoperative exposure keratitis improved or resolved in 178 (92%) of 195 eyes. Average proptosis reduction was 4.7 mm. Postoperatively, new diplopia developed in 74 (64%) of 116 patients who had no diplopia before orbital decompression, although 300 patients ultimately had strabismus surgery. At late follow-up (N = 293 patients), 226 (77%) had single vision and 44 (15%) had correction with prism. Complications included sinusitis (18 patients), lower eyelid entropion (38 patients), numb lip (23 patients), cerebrospinal fluid leaks (15 patients), and one frontal lobe hematoma (one patient). The average duration of follow-up was 8.7 years. Transantral orbital decompression effectively reduces proptosis and usually corrects optic neuropathy. In other circumstances, the benefits achieved and the side effects incurred must be carefully balanced for each patient before transantral orbital decompression is considered.

Adolescent↗

Orbital decompression in Graves' ophthalmopathy associated with pretibial myxedema.

Pretibial myxedema (thyroid dermopathy), an uncommon autoimmune manifestation of Graves' disease, is almost always associated with significant ophthalmopathy and may be a marker for an unusually prolonged or different course for the ophthalmopathy. However, it is not known if the response to therapy for eye disease is different in patients with pretibial myxedema. We compared the results of orbital decompression in 385 patients without and 52 patients with pretibial myxedema operated on between 1969 and 1989. Preoperative and postoperative characteristics of severe Graves' ophthalmopathy did not differ in patients with or without pretibial myxedema except for slightly, but not significantly, more proptosis and diplopia in the pretibial myxedema group. In response to a 1989-1990 questionnaire (83% response rate, n = 364), 89.1% without (n = 319) and 88.9% with (n = 45) pretibial myxedema reported satisfactory or acceptable appearance of the eyes. Self-assessment of visual acuity, eye comfort, diplopia, and overall rate of satisfaction with the status of the eyes did not differ between the groups. The presence of pretibial myxedema does not herald an unsatisfactory response to transantral orbital decompression.

Adolescent↗

Transfrontal orbital decompression after failure of transantral decompression in optic neuropathy of Graves' disease.

Transantral and transfrontal orbital decompression procedures are effective for treating optic neuropathy of Graves' disease. We studied 10 patients with Graves' disease to clarify whether transfrontal decompression is effective after prior failure of transantral orbital decompression. All patients had persistent or recurrent optic neuropathy after transantral decompression and had failed to respond to systemic corticosteroid therapy. After transfrontal decompression, visual acuity improved in 70% of the eyes, and visual field scotomas decreased in 80%. No major intraoperative or postoperative complications occurred. We conclude that in optic neuropathy of Graves' disease, transfrontal orbital decompression after failure of transantral decompression is an acceptable and beneficial salvage procedure.

Adult↗

Thyroid imaging techniques.

Nuclear medicine, ultrasound, CT, and MRI are imaging methods that can be used to evaluate the thyroid gland. All these techniques give structural information about the thyroid gland and show the location and size of thyroid nodules. Nuclear medicine scanning also adds functional information about nodules. In many practices, however, FNA has supplanted imaging methods as the primary method of thyroid nodule evaluation because it is safe, inexpensive, and results in a better selection of patients for operation. Imaging studies are very useful in the setting of recurrent thyroid cancer. Ultrasound is extremely sensitive in the detection of recurrent malignancy in regional cervical lymph nodes and as a guide in performing a biopsy of these nodes. CT is very useful in identifying distant metastases in the chest and abdomen. Nuclear medicine scanning can detect functioning distant metastases when the metastases are from differentiated thyroid cancers. MRI can be used to evaluate the possibility of recurrent thyroid cancer; however, because of its relatively high cost, it is used less frequently than other imaging methods.

Biopsy, Needle↗

Torsional diplopia after transantral orbital decompression and extraocular muscle surgery associated with Graves' orbitopathy.

Graves' orbitopathy can be associated with horizontal, vertical, and torsional diplopia. Of 428 patients treated with transantral orbital decompression, 21 had incycloduction (mean, 12.8 degrees; range, 5 to 20 degrees) and five had excycloduction (mean, 12 degrees; range, 5 to 20 degrees). All 26 patients had had recessions of the medial or inferior rectus muscle (or both) before onset of torsional diplopia. Mean recession was 5.5 mm (range, 4 to 10 mm) and 5.3 mm (range, 2 to 10 mm) of medial rectus muscle and inferior rectus muscle, respectively. An A pattern was often associated with the condition. Superior oblique tenectomy and inferior oblique myectomy were performed most frequently for incycloduction and excycloduction, respectively. Superior oblique tenectomy induced a mean incycloduction decrease of 7.1 degrees (range, 0 to 12 degrees). Exotropia in downgaze was decreased, and a small ipsilateral hyperdeviation was induced. Bilateral inferior oblique myectomy in one patient decreased excycloduction 10 degrees without inducing new deviation. At follow-up (mean, 63.7 months) after last strabismus operation, 15 patients with incycloduction and two with excycloduction had no diplopia.

Adult↗

Emergency treatment of Graves' ophthalmopathy.

The ocular emergencies encountered in Graves' ophthalmopathy, namely optic neuropathy, corneal ulceration, subluxation of the globe, and severe periorbital oedema with chemosis have been discussed. Evaluation of the clinical signs and symptoms of these conditions, as well as their treatment, have been outlined. Of particular concern is the complaint of 'blurry vision' that may indicate the presence of optic neuropathy. Early recognition of this entity, with prompt referral to an ophthalmologist is important because there is an inverse relationship between duration of visual loss and efficacy of treatment. The ophthalmological evaluation of a patient with optic neuropathy may demonstrate decreased visual acuity, impaired colour perception, or an afferent pupillary defect. In addition, a visual field examination may be a helpful adjunctive test. Available therapy for optic neuropathy includes high-dose corticosteroids, supervoltage X-irradiation and orbital decompressive surgery. We have reviewed the literature concerning these modalities and outlined our approach to the treatment of optic neuropathy. In general, we recommend orbital decompression at an early stage for this condition. Another worrisome complaint is of 'eye pain'. In this case, distinction must be made between the causes that include ocular inflammation, corneal keratitis and corneal ulceration. The corneal ulceration is characterized by extreme eye pain and erythema, and may require surgical intervention. Severe ocular inflammation may respond well to a course of high-dose steroids. A combination of these ocular emergencies in a patient with Graves' ophthalmology necessitates careful consideration of the available treatment options.

Acute Disease↗

Clever is not enough: NOSPECS is form in search of function.

The NOSPECS mnemonic helps students to examine systematically the eyes and orbits of patients with Graves' ophthalmopathy. NOSPECS and related numerical indices are unsuited to recording the results of treatment for Graves' ophthalmopathy because they do not distinguish between primary causes and secondary events. They do not discriminate between what is important and what is not. They do not reflect the effectiveness of treatment directed toward only one component of the index. An alternative is proposed in which investigators conducting clinical trials are asked to specify the potential benefits of therapy. Specific measurements are suggested that may be used in support of each claim. These data should be provided separately, not lumped in an overall index.

Graves Disease↗