Anterior chamber granuloma: conservative treatment versus surgical intervention

Purpose A distinct pattern of granulomatous anterior uveitis, with white anterior chamber (AC) granuloma, has been reported in certain endemic areas. The aim of this work was to compare the outcome of conservative treatment to surgical intervention for the treatment of large AC granulomas presenting with moderate-severe anterior uveitis. The secondary outcome is ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM) characterization of AC granulomas. Methods This is a prospective randomized interventional study including 41 eyes of 39 patients with active AC granuloma >= 3 mm (flare & cells >= +2). Patients were randomly assigned to either conservative treatment in the form of topical prednisolone and cycloplegic drops with orbital floor (transseptal) injection of Triamcinolone acetonide (20 eyes) or surgery in the form of granuloma excision and AC wash (21 eyes). As a perioperative care, topical steroids and cycloplegic drops were given few days before surgery and tapered gradually over 6 weeks. Patients were followed up at first day, 2 weeks, 1 and 3 months. Results Thirty-seven patients were males, and 2 were females (13.0 +/- 3.5 years). After 2 weeks, disappearance/healing of granuloma was achieved in 20 eyes in the surgical group versus 2 eyes in the conservative group (p < 0.0001). This effect was maintained throughout the follow-up period, for the surgical group and reached up to 70%, for the medical group. At every follow-up, BCVA was better in the surgical group, but this was only statistically significant at 1 and 3 months. The granuloma appeared as a homogenous hyperreflective lesion in examined eyes (16 eyes of 15 patients). Conclusion Surgical treatment of large granulomas leads to a more complete and rapid resolution of inflammation.