Sarcoidosis with orbital tumor outside the lacrimal gland: initial manifestation in 2 elderly white women

Arch Ophthalmol. 1998 Jun;116(6):804-6. doi: 10.1001/archopht.116.6.804.

Abstract

Two elderly white women (aged 72 and 87 years) were first seen with painless, unilateral orbital swelling. Orbital scanning revealed masses infiltrating the soft tissue around the eye. Biopsy results showed nodular, noncaseating granulomas consistent with sarcoidosis. One patient's workup revealed systemic manifestations of sarcoidosis at the time of examination with hilar lymphadenopathy noted on gallium scan; the other refused a complete systemic workup. The orbital tumors resolved with systemic prednisone therapy. To our knowledge, our 87-year-old patient is the oldest to be seen with orbital sarcoidosis. These 2 patients demonstrate that this diagnosis must be considered with orbital tumors in the elderly and in unusual locations, such as these which occurred outside the lacrimal gland.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Female
  • Glucocorticoids / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Lymphatic Diseases / complications*
  • Lymphatic Diseases / drug therapy
  • Lymphatic Diseases / pathology
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Orbital Diseases / complications
  • Orbital Diseases / drug therapy
  • Orbital Diseases / pathology
  • Orbital Pseudotumor / complications*
  • Orbital Pseudotumor / drug therapy
  • Orbital Pseudotumor / pathology
  • Prednisone / therapeutic use
  • Sarcoidosis / complications*
  • Sarcoidosis / drug therapy
  • Sarcoidosis / pathology
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Substances

  • Glucocorticoids
  • Prednisone