Imaging findings of recurrent tumors after orbital exenteration and free flap reconstruction.

Purpose: Tumors that recur following orbital exenteration may not be evident on clinical examination, highlighting the need for imaging surveillance. The goal of this study was to report the imaging characteristics of recurrent tumors following orbital exenteration and free flap reconstruction.

Methods: The authors retrospectively reviewed the records of 48 patients who underwent orbital exenteration for the treatment of orbital malignancy and identified 17 recurrent tumors in 17 patients.

MRI findings of myocutaneous and fasciocutaneous flaps used for reconstruction of orbital exenteration defects.

Purpose: To facilitate detection of tumor recurrence, the authors reviewed the MRI characteristics of myocutaneous and fasciocutaneous free flaps following orbital exenteration for treatment of orbital or maxillofacial tumors.

Methods: The authors retrospectively reviewed the MRI characteristics, including T1 and T2 signal intensity, and enhancement pattern of 28 such flaps.

Results: The study included 17 myocutaneous flaps and 11 fasciocutaneous flaps placed in 28 patients.

Molecular signatures of anti-nuclear antibodies--contribution of heavy chain framework residues.

It is clear that besides the CDR residues, framework residues (particularly those on FR1 and FR3) can contribute towards antigen reactivity. This study was designed to compare the immunoglobulin heavy chain FR regions of anti-nuclear antibodies (comprised of 142 anti-ssDNA, 103 anti-dsDNA and 23 anti-nucleosome Abs) with those of non-nuclear antibodies (N=165), all drawn from the GenBank. The anti-nuclear antibodies depicted residue-usage differences that reached statistical significance in their FR1 (at H1 and H29), FR2 (at H40), and FR3 (at H69, H73, H76, H80 and H87) regions.