Unilateral proptosis: A rare manifestation of nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Abstract

Epithelial carcinoma of the nasopharynx originates from the mucosal lining of this region. The etiology of the disease involves a complex interplay of environmental factors, genetic predisposition, and infection with the Epstein Barr virus. In this article, we present a case of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) that presented with right orbital proptosis and ocular symptoms, without any of the typical signs of nasopharyngeal carcinoma. However, imaging studies revealed subtle findings of NPC. Isolated neuro-ophthalmologic symptoms are not a common manifestation in NPC patients. Proptosis is a rarer finding among ophthalmologic symptoms, usually associated with tumor invasion into the orbit. However, in the presented case, unilateral proptosis was observed without orbital tumor invasion.