Misnomers ! ( April Fool's Day , Chapter II )

1. Misnomers !Misnomers !
By
Dr.Ahmed Alsherbiny
MSc. Ophth, FICO , FRCS Ophth (Glasg(

2. Chapter II

3. Pyogenic granuloma
Histology shows granulation tissue with both acute and chronic inflammatory
cells and a proliferation of small blood vessels; the term pyogenic granuloma is
a misnomer as the lesion is neither pyogenic nor granulomatous. Presentation is
typically a few weeks after surgery for chalazion, strabismus or enucleation, with
a rapidly growing dark pink fleshy conjunctival mass

4. Progressive Outer Retinal Necrosis
The name is actually not appropriate since it is only in the early stages that the
infection is limited to the outer retina and there is rapid progression to a full
thickness retinal necrosis. Now it is called “Progressive Retinal Necrosis”

5. Posterior Subcapsular Cataract
It is not the capsule which opicifies the cells profilerate and migrate onto the
posterior capsule

6. Primary Acquired Melanosis
The term primary acquired “melanosis” is inaccurate because the lesion is
characterized by proliferation of conjunctival epithelial melanocytes and not
deposition of pigment – a more appropriate term is “Conjunctival Melanocystic
intraepithelial neoplasia”

7. Phacoanaphylactic Uveitis
Although phacoanaphylaxis implies type I hypersensitivity reactions, the
word is a misnomer because it represents a type III immune
hypersensitivity reaction to lens protein. It is “ Lens Induced Uveitis“

8. Ectropion uveae
The term ectropion uveae, which refers to an outfolding over the pupil of
the iris pigment epithelium (IPE), is a misnomer because the IPE derived
from neural ectoderm (not neural crest) and therefore is not considered
part of the uvea.

9. Retinitis Pigmentosa
The term retinitis pigmentosa is a misnomer, because clear evidence of
inflammation is lacking

10. Aniridia
The term aniridia is a misnomer, because at least a rudimentary iris is always
presen

11. Lens Coloboma
A lens coloboma (a misnomer) involves flattening or notching of the lens
periphery

12. Zygomatic Fractures
Zygomaticomaxillary complex (ZMC) fractures are called tripod fractures, which
is a misnomer because the zygoma is usually fractured at 4 of its articulations
with the adjacent bones (lateral orbital rim, inferior orbital rim, zygomatic arch,
and lateral wall of the maxillary sinus(.

13. Congenital Nystagmus
The term congenital nystagmus is a misnomer as it is typically
presents between 8 to 12 weeks of age

14. Rhabdomyosarcoma
The tumour is derived from undifferentiated mesenchymal
cells that have the potential to differentiate into striated muscle

15. Scleromalecia perforans
Despite the nomenclature, perforation of the globe is extremely rare as
integrity is maintained by a thin layer of fibrous tissue

16. Thank You