Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2019 Jul-Sep;33(3):238-242.
doi: 10.1016/j.sjopt.2019.07.009. Epub 2019 Aug 27.

Changing indications for enucleation and selected unusual pathologies

Affiliations

Changing indications for enucleation and selected unusual pathologies

Caroline Thaung. Saudi J Ophthalmol. 2019 Jul-Sep.

Abstract

Purpose: To survey clinical indications for enucleations received within a single specialist ophthalmic pathology department over a 21-year period.

Methods: Cases were identified from the departmental records and categorised by indication type as well as by year.

Results: Over time, there has been a decreasing trend in eyes removed for end-stage indications such as phthisis, blindness or pain, as well as a decrease in eyes removed following trauma.

Conclusion: With the reducing number of eyes removed for end-stage disease and trauma, the majority of enucleations performed are now for malignancy. However, eyes are still removed for other indications. A selection of rarer pathologies is presented.

Keywords: Enucleation; Epidemiology; Ophthalmic pathology.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

The author declared that there is no conflict of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
There is a ciliary body (CB) and vitreous (V) abscess (A) with multinucleate giant cells (G) (Haematoxylin and eosin, x4 objective lens). The inset image shows confirmatory Acanthamoeba immunohistochemistry (cysts indicated with *).
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
The anterior segment shows scleral necrosis (N), giant cells (G), disrupted Descemet’s membrane (DM) and iris adherent to lens (L) (Haematoxylin and eosin, x4 objective lens).
Fig. 3a
Fig. 3a
Macroscopic examination of the globe confirms the eye to be full of blood. The cornea (C) is indicated for orientation. The intraocular lens can just be discerned (L).
Fig. 3b
Fig. 3b
This is the anterior segment from the cornea (C) to the anterior vitreous (V). The profile of the IOL optic (IOL) and portions of residual lens cortex (L) are indicated. The anterior chamber is obliterated, with extensive iris-corneal apposition. Posteriorly, intraocular structures are obliterated by haemorrhage and proteinaceous exudate (Haematoxylin and eosin, x1.25 objective lens).
Fig. 4a
Fig. 4a
Macroscopic appearance of the globe after removal of one calotte. The optic nerve (ON) cut end is inked green, with the cornea (C) anteriorly. The choroid is detached from the sclera, with pale fluid in the suprachoroidal space (SCS).
Fig. 4b
Fig. 4b
This image shows the detached choroid with diffuse proliferation of blood vessels consistent with a haemangioma. The retinal pigment epithelium is indicated with (*). There is proteinaceous subretinal fluid (SRF). The suprachoroidal space (SCS) is empty after macroscopy and processing. (Haematoxylin and eosin, x4 objective lens).

References

    1. Erie J.C., Nevitt M.P., Hodge D., Ballard D.J. Incidence of enucleation in a defined population. Am J Ophthalmol. 1992;113:138–144. - PubMed
    1. de Gottrau P., Holbach L.M., Naumann G.O. Clinicopathological review of 1146 enucleations (1980–90) Br J Ophthalmol. 1994;78:260–265. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Sigurdsson H., Thórisdóttir S., Björnsson J.K. Enucleation and evisceration in Iceland 1964–1992. Study in a defined population. Acta Ophthalmol Scand. 1998;76:103–107. - PubMed
    1. Geirsdottir A., Agnarsson B.A., Helgadottir G., Sigurdsson H. Enucleation in Iceland 1992–2004: study in a defined population. Acta Ophthalmol (Copenh) 2014;92:121–125. - PubMed
    1. Chan S.W.S., Khattak S., Yücel N., Gupta N., Yücel Y.H. A decade of surgical eye removals in Ontario: a clinical-pathological study. Can J Ophthalmol J Can Ophtalmol. 2017;52:486–493. - PubMed

LinkOut - more resources