Orbital Imaging Studies Research Articles

Spontaneous globe subluxation: a case report and review of the literature

BackgroundSpontaneous globe subluxation (SGS) is an atraumatic anterior dislocation of the eyeball. It is exceedingly rare. Understanding SGS predisposing factors may help uncover its etiology and undertake vision-saving management.Case presentationA 48-year-old female presented to the ED with her right eye out of its socket. She reported blurry vision, photophobia, and pain in the affected eye. She was unable to close her right eyelid and was in obvious distress. On arrival, her blood pressure was elevated. Her medical history was notable for hypertension and obesity. On physical examination, extraocular eye movements were not intact, and the globe appeared whole and round. She was also unable to count fingers with the affected eye. There was no visible trauma to the face. Multiple wet gauzes with sterile saline were placed over the displaced eyeball. Direct and even pressure was applied on the globe. Within 30 s, the globe was reduced back in. The patient was able to close her eyelids and reports substantial pain relief with reduction. A CT scan of the orbits was then obtained, demonstrating mild bilateral proptosis. The globes were normal and symmetric. No intraconal or extraconal abscess or infection was seen. There were no intraconal or extraconal masses. There was no acute orbital traumatic injury, no avulsion of the optic nerve, ocular rupture, or retrobulbar hematoma. After reviewing the case with an ophthalmologist, a follow-up appointment with the ophthalmologist was arranged. The patient was discharged on erythromycin ointment. Post-discharge investigation of the CT imaging revealed dilated optic nerve sheaths, tortuosity of the optic nerve, and empty sella.ConclusionsIn addition to causing distress and severe anxiety, SGS poses numerous immediate as well as long-term complications. Traction of the optic nerve and retinal vasculature may potentially cause retinal venous congestion and loss of visual acuity with potential vision loss. In the absence of known risk factors or disease processes, orbital imaging and serological studies for thyroid ophthalmopathy should be considered.

T2 Fluid-Attenuated Inversion Recovery Imaging of Uveal Melanomas and Other Ocular Pathology

Background/Aims: This study describes patterns of intraocular lesions on T2 fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) imaging, exploring a prospective role of FLAIR imaging sequence in diagnosis and treatment. Methods: A retrospective study of orbital magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies from the years 2000 to 2015 was performed. MRI sequences included: pre-contrast T1-weighted, T2-weighted, T2 FLAIR, and postcontrast T1 and T2 imaging gadolinium, which were evaluated by a neuroradiologist. Two cases of melanoma were correlated to their pathology. Results: Twenty-four patients with intraocular pathology were evaluated. All lesions, regardless of pigmentation, revealed previously described melanotic patterns on T1- and T2-weighted images; 80% of 10 melanomas localized were hyperintense on T2 FLAIR, which better delineated lesion margins. All of the four inflammatory pathologies on T2 FLAIR were hyperintense, as were 80% of the amelanotic neoplasms. Pathology of two large uveal melanomas paralleled the findings seen on T2 FLAIR. Conclusions: T2 FLAIR appears beneficial in the demarcation of pigmented ocular lesions and may aid in determining protein content or previous treatment. Data also promote previous assertions that blood flow impacts intensity of lesions on T2 FLAIR. Further research is warranted.

Orbital metastases in Italy.

To describe a series of Italian patients with orbital metastasis focusing on the outcomes in relation to the different primary site of malignancy. Retrospective chart review of 93 patients with orbital metastasis collected in a tertiary referral centre in a period of 38y and review of literature. Out of 93 patients, 52 were females and 41 were males. Median age at diagnosis was 51y (range 1 to 88y). The patients have been divided into four groups on the basis of the year of diagnosis. The frequency of recorded cases had decreased significantly (P<0.05) during the last 9.5y. Primary tumor site was breast in 36 cases (39%), kidney in 10 (11%), lung in 8 (9%), skin in 6 (6%); other sites were less frequent. In 16 case (17%) the primary tumor remained unknown. The most frequent clinical findings were proptosis (73%), limited ocular motility (55%), blepharoptosis (46%) and blurred vision (43%). The diagnosis were established by history, ocular and systemic evaluation, orbital imaging studies and open biopsy or fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB). Treatment included surgical excision, irradiation, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, or observation. Ninety-one percent of patients died of metastasis with an overall mean survival time (OMST) after the orbital diagnosis of 13.5mo. Breast, kidney and lung are the most frequent primary sites of cancer leading to an orbital metastasis. When the primary site is unknown, gastrointestinal tract should be carefully investigated. In the last decade a decrease in the frequency of orbital metastasis has been observed. Surgery provides a local palliation. Prognosis remains poor with a OMST of 13.5mo ranging from the 3mo in the lung cancer to 24mo in the kidney tumor.

Diffusion-weighted imaging using readout-segmented echo-planar imaging, parallel imaging, and two-dimensional navigator-based reacquisition in detecting acute optic neuritis.

To evaluate the accuracy of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) in comparison to contrast-enhanced, fat-suppressed T1 -weighted imaging (CET1WI) in detecting acute optic neuritis (ON). The clinical data and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings of 42 patients who presented with decreased vision were retrospectively reviewed. Both 3.0T MRI DWI and CET1WI orbital imaging studies were performed. Two neuroradiologists independently evaluated the DWI and CET1WI. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of the DWI and CET1WI were individually calculated using the clinical diagnosis as the reference standard. The interobserver and intraobserver reliability of DWI and CET1WI were assessed by using a weighted Cohen's kappa (κ) test; a value of P < 0.05 was set as the threshold for statistical significance. Of the 42 patients, 34 patients (41 nerves) had clinically confirmed acute ON, two had ischemic optic neuropathy, and three had chronic recurrent ON. The sensitivities of DWI and CET1WI for acute ON were 82.9-82.9% and 68.3-85.4%, respectively; the specificities were 81.4-83.7% and 79.1-93.0%, respectively; and the accuracies were 82.1-83.3% and 82.1-90.0%, respectively. The interobserver kappa values were 0.596-0.643 and 0.694-0.734 for DWI and CET1WI, respectively; the intraobserver kappa values were 0.809-0.905 and 0.834-0.924 for DWI and CET1WI, respectively (each P < 0.0001). Given that its sensitivity and specificity are similar to those of dedicated CET1WI for acute ON, DWI can play an important complementary role in detecting acute ON, especially in atypical ON cases, and can provide a quantitative modality that can be used to evaluate axonal damage in the optic nerves.

Managment of orbital complications of sinusitis

Purpose: We reported on the clinical approaches of ophthalmology and otorhinolaryngology departments in the treatment of the orbital complications of sinusitis. We also included an in-depth literature review. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical files of 51 patients from January 2008 to January 2014. The records were evaluated for age, gender, type of orbital complications, symptoms, predisposing factors, imaging studies, medical and surgical management, culture results, and follow-up information. SPSS version 15.0 software (Statistical Analysis, The Statistical Package for Social Sciences Inc, Chicago, IL) was used for the statistical analysis. Results: Fifty-one patients met the criteria, with available medical records, for the study (29 male, 22 female). Thirty-two (62.7%) were diagnosed with preseptal cellulitis and 19 (37.3%) with postseptal cellulitis. After a detailed evaluation, 15 were diagnosed with a subperiosteal abscess (SPA), and 4 were diagnosed with orbital cellulitis. The age and gender was similar for the two groups. Five patients with medial SPA were treated with endoscopic sinus surgery, one patient with inferior SPA was treated with external surgery, and six patients with other localizations were treated with a combination of endoscopic sinus surgery and external surgery. All patients presented with periorbital erythema and edema. The length of hospitalization and duration of symptoms were similar in both groups. Visual acuity was between 1/10 to 10/10 (mean 7/10) and statistically significant for preseptal and postseptal cellulitis groups (p<0.001). All patients received intravenous antibiotics upon the first day of admission. Conclusion: Orbital complications of acute sinusitis required intensive follow-up and a multidisciplinary approach. A contrast-enhanced paranasal sinus computerized tomography (CT) scan can detect the extent of the infection. An initial trial of intravenosus (IV) antibiotics may be appropriate when close monitoring is possible. Surgery may be indicated when there has been no improvement within 48 hours of intravenous treatment, loss of visual acuity (under 8/10), and a non-medial abscess.

Radiologic features of inflammatory versus tumoral orbital diseases

AbstractTo propose guidelines for analysis and interpretation of orbital imaging studies (CT and MRI) in order to help the ophtlamologist in the differential radiological approach between oncologic versus inflammatory orbital disorders.

Thyroid-Associated Orbitopathy

Thyroid-associated orbitopathy (TAO) is usually diagnosed clinically. Early presentation of TAO such as ocular irritation, lid puffiness, and mild retraction may be overlooked and misdiagnosed. Careful clinical evaluation, laboratory investigations, and orbital imaging studies are needed for diagnosing early TAO. Knowing the pathogenesis will open the door for obtaining directed and effective treatment for the inflammatory process in TAO. Most patients with mild to moderate active TAO are treated with observation alone as the available treatment modalities effective in controlling the disease have many potential side effects. Severe active TAO, compressive optic neuropathy, and severe exposure keratopathy are the main indications for treatment with immunosuppressant agents, orbital radiotherapy, or orbital decompression. Surgery remains the final rehabilitation in TAO, which should be done during cicatricial (inactive) TAO when reliable and stable results can be obtained.

Oral Chlorambucil for Extranodal, Marginal Zone, B-Cell Lymphoma of Mucosa-Associated Lymphoid Tissue of the Orbit

To report the outcome of oral chlorambucil as a single treatment in patients with orbital mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma. Retrospective nonrandomized clinical study. Thirty-three patients with isolated orbital MALT lymphoma. Medical records of all patients with histology-verified orbital MALT lymphoma treated with oral chlorambucil at the Royal Melbourne Hospital were reviewed. Complete clinical response, partial response, local relapse, systemic extension (distant relapse), and survival. Thirty-three patients (19 female; mean age, 69 years) participated in the study. Patients received an average of 4 courses of oral chlorambucil with a mean total dose of 600 mg. The lacrimal gland was the most frequent site of occurrence (24%), followed by the conjunctiva, eyelid, and superior orbit. Orbital mass, swelling, and diplopia were common presenting signs. Complete response was noted in 26 patients (79%). In 2 of the patients with complete clinical response, mild residual thickening was noted on follow-up orbital imaging studies. Four patients (12%) showed disease recurrence or relapse. Mean follow-up time was 32 (+/-20) months (range, 8 months-6 years; median, 26 months). None of the patients developed granulocytopenia secondary to chemotherapy, and none suffered significant nausea or vomiting. One patient with malignant transformation died 12 months after diagnosis and initial treatment. Systemic chemotherapy with chlorambucil is a reasonable option in patients with orbital MALT lymphoma. It is associated with minimal to no side effects. Additionally, it may be well tolerated by elderly patients and also may treat subclinical disease elsewhere.

Rethinking Orbital Imaging: Establishing Guidelines for Interpreting Orbital Imaging Studies and Evaluating Their Predictive Value in Patients With Orbital Tumors

Rethinking Orbital Imaging: Establishing Guidelines for Interpreting Orbital Imaging Studies and Evaluating Their Predictive Value in Patients With Orbital Tumors

Rethinking Orbital Imaging: Establishing Guidelines for Interpreting Orbital Imaging Studies and Evaluating Their Predictive Value in Patients with Orbital Tumors

To establish guidelines for interpretation of orbital imaging by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and/or computed tomography (CT), and to apply these guidelines and examine their predictive value in 131 patients with biopsy-proven orbital tumors. Prospective evaluation of imaging studies. Imaging studies (CT and/or MRI) from 131 cases with biopsy-proven orbital tumors. Guidelines for reviewing orbital imaging studies (MRI and/or CT) were established based on 5 major characteristics: (1) anatomic location, (2) bone and paranasal sinuses involvement, (3) content, (4) shape, and (5) associated features. In total, 84 features were established by an experienced orbital surgeon and a neuroradiologist. Applying these 84 features, imaging studies of 131 biopsy-proven orbital tumors were evaluated by 3 physicians. Imaging features: characteristics, sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values in various groups of orbital tumors and kappa values. One hundred thirty-one cases of biopsy-proven orbital tumors were evaluated. Benign lesions were more likely to be smaller in size, round or oval in shape (29% of all benign tumors, 0% in malignant and inflammatory, P<0.001), and associated with hyperostosis (22% of all benign lesions, P<0.001). They were also more likely to be hyperdense or hypodense on CT imaging (15% and 11%, respectively; P<0.05 in comparison with inflammatory and malignant tumors). Inflammatory processes showed panorbital involvement (23% vs. 3%, and 0% in benign and malignant tumors, respectively; P<0.001). Orbital fat involvement and fat stranding were noticed only in inflammatory lesions (19% and 16%, respectively; P<0.001). None of the features occurred only in malignant tumors, but they tend to involve the anterior orbit more commonly (54% vs. 20%, and 29% in benign and malignant; P = 0.002), and were more likely to show bone erosion (31% vs. 6%, and 16% in benign and inflammatory tumors, respectively; P = 0.004) and molding around orbital structures (29% vs. 3% in benign, and 0% in inflammatory tumors, respectively; P<0.001). Features such as panorbital involvement, orbital fat, frontal sinus opacity, molding around orbital structures, perineural involvement, and fat stranding had specificity of 97% to 100%, but low sensitivity. Guidelines for analysis of orbital imaging studies (CT or MRI) are suggested. Based on these guidelines several imaging features showed significantly different occurrences in benign, malignant, and inflammatory processes; although this can help in differential diagnosis, tissue diagnosis may still be required.

Inferior oblique muscle location after enucleation and evisceration

PURPOSE: To report the location of the inferior oblique muscle after enucleation without primary attachment of the muscle to the orbital implant and after evisceration. METHODS: Interventional case series. Retrospectively, eight orbital magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies were analyzed, four after enucleation and four after evisceration, to assess the position of the inferior oblique muscle relative to the orbital implant and the point of insertion. RESULTS: In the enucleation patients, the inferior oblique muscle was anteriorly displaced and the muscle appeared to insert into an inferior subconjunctival scar mass in three of the four patients. In all four of the evisceration patients, the inferior oblique muscle appeared normally positioned and inserted onto the implant in the normal location. CONCLUSION: Enucleation without suturing of the inferior oblique muscle to the implant is associated with healing in an abnormal anterior location and into an inferior subconjunctival scar mass. Evisceration does not appear to disrupt the normal position or insertion of the inferior oblique muscle.

Slipped and lost extraocular muscles.

A slipped or lost muscle should be considered in the differential diagnosis of a patient presenting with a marked limitation of duction and inability to rotate the eye beyond the midline. Loss of a rectus muscle can occur after strabismus surgery, trauma, paranasal sinus surgery, orbital surgery, or retinal detachment surgery. The extraocular rectus muscle most frequently slipped or lost is the medial rectus muscle. Forced ductions, active force generation, saccadic velocity studies, differential intraocular pressure measurements, and orbital imaging studies may aid in identifying a slipped or lost muscle. However, no single diagnostic test provides absolute reliability for determining a lost muscle. Slipped muscles develop when the muscular capsule is imbricated without including the muscle or muscle tendon during strabismus surgery. When the capsule is reattached to the sclera, the tendon and muscle are then free to slip posteriorally from the site of attachment. Slipped muscles are retrieved by following the thin avascular muscle capsule posteriorally until the muscle is identified. A lost muscle can be found using a traditional conjunctival approach, by an external orbitotomy, or by an endoscopic transnasal approach. Although many diagnostic maneuvers are useful in identifying a lost rectus muscle, the oculocardiac reflex is the most important. Once the lost muscle is identified, the muscle should be imbricated with a nonabsorbable synthetic suture and securely reattached to the globe.

Facial asymmetry in superior oblique muscle palsy and pulley heterotopy

Introduction: Some observers have considered facial asymmetry as characteristic of congenital superior oblique muscle (SO) palsy. However, recent orbital imaging studies have determined that incomitant vertical strabismus resembling SO palsy can be caused by heterotopic rectus muscle pulleys. This finding suggests that facial asymmetry may predict the presence of abnormal orbital anatomy rather than be secondary to ocular torticollis. Methods: Subjects who underwent orbital computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging were divided into 5 groups based on clinical evaluation and previously established imaging criteria: (1) congenital SO palsy; (2) acquired SO palsy; (3) strabismus with pulley heterotopy; (4) strabismus without SO palsy or pulley heterotopy; and (5) orthotropic subjects. Frontal photographs were digitized and the following 3 facial morphometric features recorded: (1) angle of inclination of each orbit; (2) relative facial size; and (3) facial angle. Results: The 79 subjects who underwent imaging were divided into the 5 groups as follows: 6 with congenital SO palsy; 7 with acquired SO palsy; 20 with pulley heterotopy; 26 with strabismus without SO palsy or pulley heterotopy; and 20 control subjects. All subjects with either congenital or acquired SO palsy had torticollis. Multivariate analysis demonstrated no significant differences in any of the 3 facial morphometric features among any of the groups. Conclusion: Facial asymmetry as assessed by these 3 morphometric features is not useful in distinguishing between congenital SO palsy or pulley heterotopy and other acquired forms of strabismus. This finding casts doubt on the relationship between ocular torticollis and facial asymmetry. (J AAPOS 2000;4:233–9)

Hemorrhage Into an Infraorbital Pseudocyst-Reply

In reply We agree entirely with Dr Coyle that examination of the retina can provide confirmatory clues about the presence of a pigmented orbital mass and even suggest a soft, distensible lesion (it did not in our particular case). Dilated fundus examination is a standard part of the orbital examination. However, orbital imaging studies will better define the precise anatomical location and tissue characteristics of the lesion; in the end, tissue is almost always needed to confirm the diagnosis (excluding, for example, orbital melanoma, which was in the differential diagnosis of our reported case).

Orbital and adnexal trauma

Trauma to the canalicular system must be suspected in medial eyelid lacerations. When a laceration of the canaliculus is diagnosed, every attempt should be made to repair the canaliculus within the first 48 hours following the injury; epiphora may result from loss of the canaliculus, even if the opposite canaliculus remains intact, and late repairs are much less likely to result in a functioning tear outflow system. The surgeon should have an armamentarium of various techniques for canalicular repair. The pigtail probe, used with a delicate touch and immediately abandoned if smooth passage is not obtained, can be a very useful tool in these injuries. The main goals of orbital blowout fracture repair are prevention of late enophthalmos and ocular dystopia, and minimization of late restrictive motility defects. The availability of high-resolution orbital imaging studies has eliminated some of the uncertainty that used to characterize surgical decision making in isolated orbital blowout fractures. It is now possible to identify large fractures with significant expansion of orbital volume that will lead to enophthalmos and ocular dystopia; these patients are surgical candidates, and there is no advantage to delay. Patients with ocular motility disturbance and diplopia following orbital blowout fractures are significantly more complicated with regard to surgical decision making. There is no expert consensus and there are no good published data to provide absolute guidelines. The factors that militate in favor of surgical intervention include diplopia in the primary fields of gaze persisting beyond 1 to 2 weeks without improvement, positive forced duction testing, and evidence of soft tissue incarceration on orbital imaging studies. Fractures that involve the extended orbit, including the nasoorbitoethmoid region and the orbitozygomatic region, require surgical management when significant displacement of the bony fragments is diagnosed on orbital imaging studies. The availability of modern bone fixation systems and increasing use of wide subperiosteal exposure of all displaced fractures minimize the incidence of late orbital dystopia, telecanthus, asymmetry, and abnormal soft tissue scarring, which typically result from inadequately reduced orbital fractures. Ophthalmologists should be cognizant of the optimal methods for diagnosis and treatment of orbital fractures; those with orbital surgical training are particularly well prepared, based on their extensive knowledge of orbital anatomy and physiology, to serve as “captains” of the multidisciplinary team typically involved in the management of complicated midfacial fractures.

Multiple Orbital Neurofibromas Unassociated With von Recklinghausen's Disease

A 58-year-old man with a 10-year history of right periorbital pain treated with multiple analgesics presented with slowly progressive exophthalmos of the right eye. Orbital imaging studies disclosed three separate well-defined tumors, located in the temporal fossa, the intraconal space, and within the floor of the orbit. All three tumors were removed intact and proved on histopathologic evaluation to be localized neurofibromas. The patient had complete relief of the chronic pain following removal of the tumors. We emphasize that the unusual occurrence of multiple circumscribed orbital tumors should suggest the diagnosis of neurofibroma even in the absence of von Recklinghausen's neurofibromatosis.