Orbital metastasis mimicking internuclear ophthalmoplegia: A case report and review

Colorectal carcinoma presenting in the orbit: mass effect from an uncommon cause

An 84-year-old male with previously documented poor medical follow-up presented with progressive painless proptosis of the right eye. Right upper eyelid ptosis, limited motility, proptosis, and inferomedial displacement of the right globe were noted on the exam. Computed tomography (CT) imaging revealed a right retrobulbar extraconal heterogenous mass with ill-defined borders. Biopsy revealed a malignant adenocarcinoma with tumor markers suggestive of a colorectal primary. A rectal mass was identified during a systemic workup. After biopsy, the patient was diagnosed with stage IV metastatic rectal adenocarcinoma. He began palliative radiation therapy shortly following diagnosis.

Rare Signet Ring Cell Adenocarcinoma of the Colon Metastasis to the Orbit

Metastases arising from primary tumors of the gastrointestinal tract are not commonly encountered in the orbit. Colorectal carcinomas are subcategorized based on morphological and genetic characteristics with these distinctions bearing therapeutic and prognostic significance. The behavior of these subcategories, including their propensity for orbital metastasis, differs, and clinicians treating these tumors must be aware of their metastatic profiles. This report describes a 51-year-old female with right upper lid swelling and ptosis ultimately found, what we believe to be, the first reported case of signet ring cell colon carcinoma metastasizing to the levator muscle and superior orbit. This case serves as a reminder to all clinicians to consider orbital metastasis even in malignancies not typically found in this location.

Orbital Metastasis From Urothelial Carcinoma: A Comprehensive Literature Review

PURPOSE

To review the clinical features of orbital and choroidal metastases from urothelial carcinomas of the urinary tract among cases reported in the literature, and to describe a case of orbital metastasis from bladder cancer presenting as apparent internuclear ophthalmoplegia.

METHODS

Case reports of orbital and choroidal metastases from urothelial carcinomas published in the literature from 1965 to 2018 were reviewed. Data collected included patient demographics, cancer stage and primary site, time to onset of ocular symptoms, length of presenting ocular symptoms, types of primary ocular symptoms, diagnostic imaging, histology, systemic and ocular treatments, and survival time.

RESULTS

Twenty-eight cases of urothelial carcinoma with metastasis to the orbit or choroid were reviewed. Men were significantly more likely to suffer from this condition than women (p = 0.011). The average age of presentation with orbital symptoms was 63 years, with an average time of 19 months between primary cancer diagnosis and onset of orbital symptoms. Twenty-two patients had metastasis to the orbit and 6 to the choroid. In 4 cases, ocular deficits secondary to orbital and/or choroidal metastases were the initial presenting symptoms in patients with previously undiagnosed urothelial carcinoma. The most commonly noted primary ocular symptoms and signs consisted of decreased visual acuity, decreased ocular motility, proptosis, and diplopia. Average survival from onset of ocular symptoms was 4.67 months.

CONCLUSIONS

Urothelial carcinoma may metastasize to the orbit or choroid; furthermore, its presentation may mimic internuclear ophthalmoplegia. It is recommended that any patient with visual symptoms and known urothelial cancer should undergo expedited workup for metastatic disease.