Bilateral orbital lymphoma presenting as recurrence of orbital fat pad after blepharoplasty

Incidental Diagnosis of Four Lid Orbital Lymphoma during a Blepharoplasty

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia is characterized by the accumulation of mature CD5-positive B-cells in the lymphoid organs.1 Extranodal involvement occurs in up to 10% of cases and can arise in various tissues, including the orbit. Less than 400 cases of orbital lymphoma are diagnosed per year in the United States, typically manifesting as a form of B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma, with extranodal marginal zone B-cell lymphoma being the most common subtype. Orbital lymphoma typically presents with proptosis and a palpable mass; however, patients may also have a relatively benign examination. Here, we present a 76-year-old man with symmetric dermatochalasis and marked fat prolapse of all four lids, who was incidentally diagnosed with secondary orbital lymphoma in all four eyelids during a cosmetic four lid blepharoplasty. His history was significant for RAI Stage 0 chronic lymphocytic leukemia diagnosed 15 years before consultation. Orbital lymphoma presenting as orbital fat prolapse has only been reported a few times in the literature. To our knowledge, this is the first case of secondary orbital lymphoma in all four eyelids found incidentally during an aesthetic four lid blepharoplasty.

Primary Orbital Lymphoma – A Challenging Diagnosis

Background and purpose: The occurrence of primary orbital lymphoma comprises approximately 1% of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and 8% of extranodal lymphoma. The vast majority of orbital lymphomas are of B-cell origin, of which extranodal marginal zone B-cell lymphoma is the most common subtype. The purpose of this paper was to present the diagnostic challenges in a case of orbital lymphoma. Case presentation: An 84-year -old woman with orbital tumour was operated on after a long period of inappropriate treatment. It was later diagnosed as B-cell lymphoma.

Conclusion: Orbital lymphoma can be easily mistaken for another ocular disease due to the slowly progressing non-specific complaints of the patients. We should be alert to the possibility of this ocular diagnosis when we are presented with an elderly patient with proptosis.

Prolapse of Orbital Fat through the Inferior Orbital Fissure: Description, Prevalence, and Assessment of Possible Pathologic Associations

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

A few patterns of orbital fat prolapse have been described. Some are associated with disease, and others may mimic a neoplasm. We have observed prolapse of orbital fat into the infratemporal fossa via the inferior orbital fissure on MR imaging. The clinical relevance of this finding, if any, is unknown. The purposes of this study were to describe the MR imaging appearance of orbital fat prolapse through the inferior orbital fissure, to estimate the prevalence of this finding, and to assess possible pathologic associations.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

For this retrospective study of 228 orbital MR imaging examinations, 3 neuroradiologists independently assessed the presence of prolapse on high-resolution T1-weighted images. Discrepancies were resolved by consensus, and interobserver agreement was calculated. Patient demographics, indications for imaging, and pertinent clinical history were recorded. One-way analysis of variance and the Fisher exact test were used to assess possible associations between prolapse and specific patient characteristics.

RESULTS

Orbital fat prolapse through the inferior orbital fissure was observed in 20/228 patients (9%). This finding was unilateral in 11 patients (55%) and bilateral in 9 patients (45%). There was no significant association with age, sex, obesity, Graves disease, hypercortisolism, prior orbital trauma, proptosis, or enophthalmos. Interobserver agreement was 90%.

CONCLUSIONS

Prolapse of orbital fat into the infratemporal fossa via the inferior orbital fissure is a relatively common finding on orbital MR imaging that has no identified pathologic association. Neuroradiologists should recognize this finding so as not to report it as pathologic.