Orbital presentation of Rosai-Dorfman disease

Rosai-Dorfman sphenoorbital histiocytosis with intraparenchymal invasion: Do we have to consider this skull base pathology as a malignant disease?

Background

Rosai-Dorfman disease (RDD) is a rare type of histiocytosis that can manifest with diverse symptoms. It usually presents with systemic involvement, and only a few cases have been reported at the level of the skull base. RDD typically follows a benign course during the progression of the disease. In this particular case reported, after the skull base invasion, the disease started to infiltrate the brain parenchyma. Our objective for this case report was to present this particular progression pattern and the nuances of its surgical treatment. In addition, a revision of the current literature was performed about skull base RDD with intracranial invasion and brain parenchyma infiltration not previously described.

Case Description

We are presenting the case study of a 57-year-old male patient who was experiencing severe headaches and an increase in volume in the right fronto-orbital region. On clinical examination, no neurologic clinical symptoms were observed. Contrast computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging showed a tumor mass that affected the right orbit, frontal paranasal sinus, greater sphenoid wing, and right frontal lobe with moderate adjacent brain edema. The patient underwent surgery using an extended pterional approach with intracranial, orbital decompression, and frontal sinus cranialization, accompanied by frontal lobe tumor resection. Neuropathologic diagnosis revealed a Rosai-Dorfman histiocytosis disease.

Conclusion

The etiopathogenesis of RDD is still not completely understood. The current literature considers this disease to have a predominantly benign course. Nevertheless, as we have shown in this case, it may, in some cases, present direct parenchymal invasion. We consider that prompt surgical treatment should be ideal to avoid the local and systemic progression of the disease.

Isolated bilateral orbital and paranasal Rosai-Dorfman disease affecting two brothers: a case report and a systematic literature review

A systematic literature review revealed 88 Rosai-Dorfman Disease (RDD) cases affecting the orbit. We present a review of the literature on orbital RDD in addition to two brothers with isolated bilateral extra-nodal orbital RDD cases associated with G-6PD deficiency. The disease manifested as asymmetric extensive orbital and paranasal sinus infiltration, with orbital bone destruction. Orbital mass debulking and steroids improved the condition in both patients. This is the most extensive case series of orbital RDD reported, including clinical manifestation, imaging, pathologic results, management, and outcome. Vigilant follow-up is essential to monitor for potential malignant transformation, systemic manifestations, potential vision loss, or life-threatening recurrences.

Orbital histiocytosis with systemic involvement: A case with complex affiliations

A 70-year-old male presented with orbital masses affecting the muscular cone. His past medical history was notable for diabetes mellitus, ischemic cardiopathy, sleep-apnea syndrome, and multiple serous effusions. The first biopsy specimen of affected orbital tissue revealed fibrohistiocytic infiltration resembling xanthogranuloma or Erdheim–Chester disease (ECD). An ulterior biopsy of affected orbital tissue showed lymphocyte emperipolesis with immunopositivity for CD68 and S100 but negative staining for CD1a marker, strongly suggesting Rosai–Dorfman disease (RDD). Afterward, pericardium and peritoneal effusions resulted in constrictive pericarditis and retroperitoneal fibrosis, respectively. The absence of distinctive clinical features made the diagnosis especially challenging. Attempts to control the disease using corticosteroids, radiation, orbital surgery, and interferon were unsuccessful. Aggressive treatments such as chemotherapy were not considered appropriate due to the general deterioration of our patient. Although the possibility of two concurrent diseases (e.g., systemic ECD and orbital RDD) cannot be discarded, we interpreted the orbital findings as likely due to RDD, and the entire condition of our patient as an extranodal RDD with atypical clinicopathological findings and outcome.