Since 2005 we have treated many older patients with upper blepharochalasis but no obvious aponeurotic ptosis by infraeyebrow excision of skin and orbicular muscle with tucking of the orbital septum. Thirty-five patients (70 lids) were studied, age range 61-80 years (mean 68). There were 6 men and 29 women, who were followed up for 3 months to 2 years (mean 7 months). All patients reported improvement in the upper visual fields and lessening of headaches and neck stiffness. The lateral drooping of the lid also improved, and the crease was more clearly defined than before the operation. There were no serious complications. We conclude that infraeyebrow blepharoplasty with tucking of the orbital septum is a simple and effective treatment for blepharochalasis in older East Asian patients.

No abstract

Many authors have advocated early surgical intervention to avoid muscle degeneration in patients with blowout fractures with evidence of extraocular muscle entrapment imaged under computed tomography. However, there is still no golden standard with regard to the target timing of operations for releasing extraocular muscle. Between January 2002 and December 2011, the authors treated eight cases of blowout fracture with extraocular muscle entrapment. Notes from presumed cases of blowout fracture were retrospectively reviewed for information relating to surgical treatment and prognosis. In this series, a patient who was operated on 7 hours after injury showed the quickest recovery from diplopia. In contrast, a patient who was operated on 18 days after injury showed persistent diplopia for 2 years. Nevertheless, in patients who were operated on 3-11 days after injury, there was no obvious correlation between the outcome and the number of days between injury and the operation. It is concluded that, when emergency surgical intervention within several hours is not possible, it should be performed as soon after the injury as possible in order to prevent the increase of predictive fibrosis around the extraocular muscle.

No abstract

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare locally malignant cutaneous tumor of neuroendocrine origin, most often occurring on the head and neck of the elderly. MCC is a highly aggressive tumor with a high percentage of recurrence, metastatic spread and mortality. Despite the highly malignant course of MCC, there have been several reports of spontaneous regression or resolution. We report the clinical course of a 71-year-old man with MCC. The tumor initially occurred in the left lower eyelid and advanced to encompass nearly half the face. Despite its large size, complete spontaneous regression of the tumor occurred. This is the most advanced case of complete spontaneous regression of MCC to be reported.