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Purpose: To determine the efficacy of switching to intravitreal (IVT) faricimab in patients with treatment-resistant neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) and determine the rates of reversion to original antivascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) therapy. Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed of patients with nAMD and persistent fluid on optical coherence tomography previously treated with anti-VEGF injections who received at least 1 IVT faricimab injection between March 1, 2022, and January 31, 2023. Results: The study comprised 135 eyes of 119 patients. Before switching to IVT faricimab, the mean number of anti-VEGF injections in the previous 12 months was 10.7 ± 2.6 (SD) with a mean interval of 4.8 ± 1.3 weeks (range, 2-8). The mean follow-up was 11.6 ± 2 months. Thirty eyes (22.2%) switched to IVT faricimab returned to the original therapy. Of 105 eyes remaining on IVT faricimab, 66 (62.9%) had no fluid at the last follow-up. Compared with the original treatment, there was a significant improvement in logMAR visual acuity at the last follow-up in eyes on IVT faricimab (0.42 vs 0.38; P  < .01) and in central subfield thickness (286 µm vs 246 µm; P  < .0001). There was also a significant increase in the dosing interval after the third injection vs before IVT faricimab was prescribed (4.8 weeks vs 5.5 weeks; P  < .001). Conclusions: Faricimab has a potent drying effect and potential for increasing the injection interval in many eyes with nAMD and persistent fluid on other anti-VEGF agents. Although nearly 25% of eyes reverted to the original therapy because of an insufficient response or adverse events, the majority did not achieve fluid resolution after reversion., Competing Interests: Drs. Heier, Shah, Cleary, Reed, Choi, and Nanda are sub-investigators in clinical trials sponsored by Genentech and Regeneron. Dr Witkins is an investigator for Genentech. The authors report no other conflicts of interest in this work., (© The Author(s) 2024.)

Purpose: To assess the long-term safety and clinical outcomes of a ganciclovir intravitreal implant in patients with cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis. Methods: A retrospective study was performed of patients with CMV retinitis treated with a ganciclovir intravitreal implant. Results: The study included 13 patients (16 eyes) previously treated with a ganciclovir intravitreal implant. The mean time since the last implant placement was 21.3 years and the mean total duration of follow-up, 22.7 years. Visual acuity (VA) ranged from 20/25 to light perception, with 56% of eyes maintaining a VA of 20/60 or better at the most recent follow-up examination. Common ocular complications included epiretinal membrane (38%), macular fibrosis/scarring (25%), retinal detachment (RD) (25%), implant dislocation (25%), and immune reactivation uveitis (19%). Intraocular surgery was required in 10 eyes (63%), with the most frequent being cataract extraction (31%), pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) for implant removal (19%), and PPV for RD (13%). Conclusions: Results show the long-term safety of the ganciclovir intravitreal implant despite its residual inactive inert shell. Complication rates are consistent with those expected from infectious sequelae., Competing Interests: The author(s) declared the following potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: Dr. Duker is an employee of EyePoint Pharmaceuticals., (© The Author(s) 2024.)

Purpose: To describe the retinal findings associated with pemigatinib, an oral competitive inhibitor of fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) approved for the treatment of cholangiocarcinoma., Methods: We present a case report and performed a literature review, revealing only two prior reported cases of pemigatinib-mediated subretinal fluid., Results: A 72-year-old woman presented with transient visual symptoms while on pemigatinib for the treatment of cholangiocarcinoma. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) revealed subfoveal subretinal fluid bilaterally that resolved during a drug holiday, however fluctuated throughout her treatment course. She remained on pemigatinib for ten months without other ocular sequelae., Conclusions: This is one of the few reported cases of pemigatinib-related retinopathy, which further supports the self-limited and benign nature of subretinal fluid associated with FGFR inhibitors., Competing Interests: Declaration of conflicting interests: The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.

Competing Interests: The following authors have no financial disclosures: JC, AW.

Septic cavernous sinus thrombosis (SCST) is a rare, yet severe, process typically arising from infections of the paranasal sinuses (predominately ethmoid and/or sphenoid sinusitis) and less commonly, otogenic, odontogenic, and pharyngeal sources. Clinical symptoms of SCST arise from obstruction of venous drainage from the orbit and compression of the cranial nerves within the cavernous sinus. In the preantibiotic era SCST was considered universally fatal (80-100%); however, with the introduction of antibiotics the overall incidence, morbidity, and mortality of SCST have greatly declined. In spite of dramatic improvements, morbidity and mortality remain high, with the majority of patients experiencing neurological sequalae, highlighting the severity of the disease and the need for prompt recognition, diagnosis, and treatment. Here we review of the literature on SCST with a focus on the current recommendations and recent evidence for diagnostic and medical management of this condition., Competing Interests: Conflicts of interest The authors report no commercial or proprietary interest in any product or concept discussed in this article., (Copyright © 2021. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Numerous risk stratification rules exist to predict post-pulmonary embolism (PE) mortality; however, few were designed for use in cancer patients. In the EPIPHANY registry, adapted versions of common rules (the Hestia criteria, Pulmonary Embolism Severity Index [PESI], and simplified PESI [sPESI]) displayed high sensitivity for prognosticating mortality in PE patients with cancer. These adapted rules have yet to be externally validated. Therefore, we sought to evaluate the performance of an adapted Hestia criteria, PESI, and sPESI for predicting 30-day post-PE mortality in patients with cancer. We identified consecutive, adults presenting with objectively confirmed PE and cancer to our institution (November 2010 to January 2014). The proportion of patients categorized as low or high risk by these three risk stratification rules was calculated, and each rule's accuracy for predicting 30-day all-cause mortality was determined. Of the 124 patients with PE and active cancer identified, 25 (20%) experienced mortality at 30 days. The adapted Hestia criteria categorized 23 (19%) patients as low risk, while exhibiting a sensitivity of 88% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 68-97%), a negative predictive value NPV of 87% (95% CI = 65-97%), and a specificity of 20% (95% CI = 13-30%). A total of 38 (31%) and 30 (24%) patients were low risk by the adapted PESI and sPESI, with both displaying sensitivities of 92% and NPVs > 93%. Specificities were 36% (95% CI = 27-47%) and 28% (95% CI = 20-38%) for PESI and sPESI. In our external validation, the adapted Hestia, PESI, and sPESI demonstrated high sensitivity but low specificity for 30-day PE mortality in patients with cancer. Larger, prospective trials are needed to optimize strategies for risk stratification in this population.

Introduction: While there are numerous published cases of arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) developing in the setting of malignancy, it is extremely rare to find them concurrently associated in the brain., Clinical Case: This is the case of a 55-year-old male who presented to the emergency department complaining of headaches, memory and visual changes. Neuro-imaging revealed a right temporal parietal AVM and an adjoining hyperenhancing occipitotemporal lobe lesion with concern for a possible evolving stroke. The patient was treated with radiosurgery for the AVM. His symptoms progressed one month later, and repeat imaging suggested interval enlargement of the previously presumed stroke that was intricately associated with the AVM, in addition to two new small enhancing lesions of the left temporal lobe. Microsurgical resection of the temporal lobe mass revealed adenocarcinoma of the lung., Conclusion: This case represents a previously undocumented confluence of cranial AVM that initially masked a non-small cell lung cancer brain metastasis., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Aneurysmal bone cysts (ABCs) are rare, rapidly expansile, benign, vascular lesions capable of causing local bone destruction. The majority of cases present as multi-cystic lytic lesions (with solid-variant ABCs representing<10% of all presentations) of the long bones or vertebrae, rarely occurring in the head/neck region., Clinical Case: A 44-year-old female presented with nine days of worsening pain, ptosis and proptosis in the right eye. CT and MR imaging revealed a 3.2cm extra-axial multiloculated right frontal lobe mass in the orbit with fluid-fluid levels secondary to layering of solid blood components. A right craniotomy was performed and the lesion was resected piecemeal with subsequent high speed burring to remove residual tissue. Histological evaluation revealed spindle and giant cell infiltration of the bone without vascular channels. Based on these findings, the lesion was diagnosed as a solid-variant orbital ABC without paranasal sinus involvement. The patient recovered fully with no residual symptoms., Conclusion: This case report details a rare presentation of ABC (solid-variant presenting outside of the vertebrae/long bones) with discussion concerning possible treatment modalities and guidance for follow-up., (Published by Elsevier Masson SAS.)

Background: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have compared mechanical endovascular therapy (MET) in addition to intravenous tissue plasminogen activator (IVtPA) to IVtPA alone for the management of acute ischemic stroke (AIS). Direct comparative studies between individual METs are not available. In lieu of head-to-head randomized control trials, we performed an adjusted indirect treatment comparison (ITC) meta-analysis to assess the comparative efficacy and safety of different METs, Solitaire+IVtPA and Penumbra+IVtPA in AIS patients., Methods and Findings: We searched MEDLINE, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials and Embase from January 1, 2005 through April 1, 2017 for RCTs in AIS patients, comparing a single MET+IVtPA to IVtPA alone and reporting shift in ordinal modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score at 90 days. Secondary endpoints included 90 day mortality and symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH). Endpoints were pooled using traditional random effects meta-analysis methods, producing odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals. Adjusted ITCs using pooled estimates were then performed. Three studies (SWIFT PRIME, EXTEND-IA, THERAPY) were included; two evaluating the Solitaire stent retriever and one the Penumbra system. Traditional meta-analysis demonstrated that each MET+IVtPA resulted in increased odds of improving ordinal mRS score vs. IVtPA alone, but did not alter the odds of death or sICH. Adjusted ITC showed no significant difference between the METs for any outcome., Conclusion: No significant difference in efficacy or safety between the Solitaire and Penumbra devices was observed.

Essentials Clinical prediction rules (CPRs) can stratify patients with pulmonary embolism (PE) and cancer. A meta-analysis was done to assess prognostic accuracy in CPRs for mortality in these patients. Eight studies evaluating ten CPRs were included in this study. CPRs should continue to be used with other patient factors for mortality risk stratification., Summary: Background Cancer treatment is commonly complicated by pulmonary embolism (PE), which remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in these patients. Some guidelines recommend the use of clinical prediction rules (CPRs) to help clinicians identify patients at low risk of mortality and therefore guide care. Objective To determine and compare the accuracy of available CPRs for identifying cancer patients with PE at low risk of mortality. Methods A literature search of Medline and Scopus (January 2000 to August 2017) was performed. Studies deriving/validating ≥ 1 CPR for early post-PE all-cause mortality were included. A bivariate, random-effects model was used to pool sensitivity and specificity estimates for each CPR. Traditional random-effects meta-analysis was performed to estimate the weighted proportion of patients deemed at low risk of early mortality, mortality in low risk patients and odds ratios for death compared with higher-risk patients. Results Eight studies evaluating 10 CPRs were included. The highest sensitivities were observed with Hestia (98.1%, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 75.6-99.9%) and the EPIPHANY index (97.4%, 95% CI = 93.2-99.0%); sensitivities of remaining rules ranged from 59.9 to 96.6%. Of the six CPRs with sensitivities ≥ 95%, none had specificities > 33%. Random-effects meta-analysis suggested that 6.6-51.6% of cancer patients with PE were at low risk of mortality, 0-14.3% of low-risk patients died and low-risk patients had a 43-94% lower odds of death compared with those at higher risk. Conclusions Because of the limited total body of evidence regarding CPRs, their results, in conjunction with other pertinent patient-specific clinical factors, should continue to be used in identifying appropriate management for PE in patients with cancer., (© 2017 International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis.)

Background: Numerous risk stratification tools exist to predict early post-pulmonary embolism (PE) mortality; however, few were specifically designed for use in patients with cancer. This study sought to evaluate the performance of 3 cancer-specific (RIETE, POMPE-C, and Font criteria) and 3 generic (Hestia, Pulmonary Embolism Severity Index [PESI], and Geneva prognostic score [GPS]) risk stratification tools for predicting 30-day post-PE mortality in patients with active cancer. Methods: We identified consecutive, adult, objectively confirmed patients with PE and active cancer presenting to our institution from November 2010 to January 2014. We calculated the proportion of patients categorized as low or high risk by each of the 6 risk stratification tools and determined each tools' accuracy for predicting 30-day all-cause mortality. Results: A total of 124 patients with PE and active cancer were included (mean age, 66.2 years; 46.0% with concurrent deep vein thrombosis; 49.2% with metastatic disease; and 46.8%, 16.9%, and 11.3% receiving chemotherapy, radiation, or both, respectively). Mortality at 30 days occurred in 25 patients (20.2%). The cancer-specific tools (POMPE-C, RIETE, and Font criteria) categorized between 32% and 43% of patients as low risk and displayed sensitivities and specificities of 88.0% to 96.0% and 38.4% to 52.5%, respectively. The generic PESI and Hestia tools had sensitivities >96.0%, but classified <19% of patients as low risk; specificity of these tools were low (PESI, 6.1%; Hestia, 23.2%). Although the final noncancer tool, GPS, classified 43.5% of patients as low risk, it did so with a sensitivity of 52.0% and specificity of 42.4%. Conclusions: When risk-stratifying PE in patients with active cancer, cancer-specific tools appeared to exhibit better prognostic accuracy than their generic counterparts. POMPE-C, RIETE, and the Font criteria identified a substantially greater proportion of patients with PE likely to survive to 30 days with comparable sensitivity to the generic tools., (Copyright © 2017 by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network.)