Camurati-Engelmann disease (CED; MIM 131300), or progressive diaphyseal dysplasia, is a rare autosomal dominant bone disease, which is caused by mutations in the transforming growth factor‑β1 (TGFβ1) gene on chromosome 19q13.1‑13.3. Extremely variable penetrance has been reported to be associated with CED, the most common features of which are limb pain, waddling gait and muscle weakness. The present study reported on a consanguineous Chinese family with one affected individual that initially presented with exophthalmos, which has not previously been reported as an initial manifestation of CED. The proband was a 22-year-old woman that presented with progressive proptosis. Except for increased serum levels of alkaline phosphatase and C‑terminal telopeptide of type I collagen, no other biochemical abnormalities were detected. Whole‑body radiological and bone scintigraphic investigations revealed that hyperostosis and sclerosis predominantly affected the cranial bones, including the skull base, and only mildly affected the long bones. A heterozygous mutation involving a G to A transition at the cDNA position +653 of TGFβ1 was detected in the patient only, but not in her family members, by automated DNA sequencing using an ABI DNA sequencer (Model 377). Based on the clinical, biochemical, radiological and genetic findings, a diagnosis of CED was confirmed. Considering the phenotypic variability associated with CED and the unique manifestations of the patient described in the present study, CED should be taken into account regarding the differential diagnosis of exophthalmos.