Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

J C Orcutt

Publications and source records attributed to J C Orcutt.

27 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Factors affecting visual loss in benign intracranial hypertension.

Visual function and optic disc appearances were studied in 68 patients conforming to established criteria of benign intracranial hypertension (BIH). The clinical, radiological, and laboratory findings of those patients whose visual field or acuity deteriorated were compared with those who did not deteriorate over an average follow-up of 4.1 years. Definite loss of visual function occurred in 49% of eyes and was severe in 6%. Patients with high grade or atrophic papilledema, or peripapillary subretinal hemorrhage, were significantly more likely to have had deterioration of visual function. Transient obscurations of vision and the presence of optico-ciliary shunts were associated with severe visual loss. Anemia, older age, and high myopia were other risk factors for visual loss. Chronic papilledema may cause progressive visual loss and, for this reason, BIH is not a benign condition; fundal changes and visual function should be carefully monitored.

Adolescent↗

Treatment of idiopathic inflammatory orbital pseudotumours by radiotherapy.

Radiotherapy offers an alternative to steroid therapy for idiopathic inflammatory orbital pseudotumours. Twenty-four orbits were treated with radiotherapy, of which 75% responded adequately. There were no significant complications and no recurrences during the average follow-up time of 22.3 months (1-50 months). Biopsy, CT scanning, and steroid response of orbital pseudotumours can be helpful in predicting the response to radiotherapy. An adequate response to radiotherapy can be predicted if lymphocytes with germinal centres are present in biopsy specimens. Polymorphonuclear leucocytes and eosinophils suggest a poor response to radiotherapy. Small, discrete, inflammatory masses respond better than large diffuse masses. Pseudotumours initially responding to steroids were likely to respond to radiotherapy.

Adolescent↗

Anomalous optic discs in a patient with a Dandy-Walker cyst.

A 19-month-old female infant with a Dandy-Walker cyst had anomalous optic discs, each of which appeared to divide to form an accessory optic nerve. The discs probably lie within the spectrum of anomalous discs including optic nerve aplasia and hypoplasia, megallopapillae, morning glory disc, optic disc dysplasia, and optic nerve colobomas. The association of anomalous optic discs with a Dandy-Walker cyst has not been previously recognized. The ocular and brain malformations in this patient likely occurred during the fourth to eighth week of gestation, when the retinal ganglion cell axons were penetrating the optic nerve, and the rhombic lips were enlarging in early cerebellar development. The etiology of these anomalies is not known; however, teratogens, sporadic events, and genetic disorders should be considered.

Adult↗

Monoclonal antibodies to intermediate filament proteins: diagnostic specificity in orbital pathology.

Intermediate filaments derived from different cell types are antigenically distinct. Monoclonal antibodies to human intermediate filament proteins can, therefore, be used as tissue-specific reagents capable of distinguishing cell type in poorly differentiated neoplasms. We report a case demonstrating the specificity of antiintermediate filament protein antibodies in establishing a difficult orbital diagnosis of esthesioneuroblastoma.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗