Recurrent orbital myositis mimicking sixth nerve palsy: diagnosis with MR imaging

Clinical Features of Ocular Motility in Idiopathic Orbital Myositis

: Objective: To elucidate the clinical features of ocular motility and the risk factors for recurrence in idiopathic orbital myositis.

METHODS

The medical records of 31 patients diagnosed with idiopathic orbital inflammation between 2003 and 2019 were retrospectively reviewed. All patients were initially treated with corticosteroids. Treatment outcome and ocular motility were noted.

RESULTS

Twenty-six patients (84%) had unilateral involvement and five patients (16%) were bilateral. Of the 31 patients, 22 patients (71%) showed ocular motility limitation. The mean grading scale of extraocular muscle (EOM) limitation was -1.65 ± 1.80. EOM limitation was found in the same direction of the most affected muscle in 14 patients (64%), while 8 patients (36%) showed duction limitation in the opposite direction. Nine patients (35%) suffered from recurrence. Recurrence was more likely to occur in patients with multiple muscle involvement (p < 0.001). The interval to relapse of symptoms after discontinuation of steroids was significantly shorter in patients with multiple recurrences compared to those with a single recurrence (1.8 ± 0.8 weeks versus 6.0 ± 1.4 weeks, p = 0.020).

CONCLUSIONS

Idiopathic orbital myositis showed variable degrees of ocular motility limitation, and limitation in the same direction of the action of the affected muscle was more frequent. Recurrent myositis was more likely to have multiple muscle involvement. Rapid relapse of symptoms after discontinuation of steroids was a significant indicator of multiple recurrences.

Neuroradiological and clinical features in ophthalmoplegia

PURPOSE

Especially in acute onset of ophthalmoplegia, efficient neuroradiological evaluation is necessary to assist differential diagnosis, clinical course, and treatment options.

METHODS

Different manifestations of ophthalmoplegia are explained and illustrated by characteristic neuroradiological and clinical findings.

RESULTS

To present those ophthalmoplegic disorders in a clear manner, this review refers to different neuroanatomical structures and compartments. From neuroophthalmological point of view, diseases going ahead with ophthalmoplegia can be divided into (1) efferent infranuclear/peripheral disturbances involving oculomotor cranial nerves, (2) conjugate gaze abnormalities due to internuclear or supranuclear lesions, and (3) diseases of the extraocular eye muscles or their impairment due to intraorbital pathologies.

CONCLUSION

The knowledge of the relationship between neurological findings in ophthalmoplegia and involved neuroanatomical structures is crucial, and neuroradiology can be focused on circumscribed anatomical regions, using optimized investigation protocols.

Orbital Myositis: Evaluating Five New Cases Regarding Clinical and Radiological Features

Orbital myositis (OM) is an inflammatory disorder of the extraocular muscles. The signs and symptoms of OM are periorbital pain, eyelid swelling and redness, restricted ocular motility, and strabismus. There are at least two major forms, described by Benedikt GH Schoser, a limited oligosymptomatic ocular myositis (LOOM), which is associated with conjunctival injection only, and severe exophthalmic ocular myositis (SEOM), which presents with additional ptosis, chemosis, and proptosis. We report the clinical and radiological features of five patients with OM who were recently followed in our clinic. Three patients, one man and two women, were placed in the LOOM group, and the other two patients, both women, were in the SEOM group. In both groups, the initial complaints were pain worsening with eye movements and double vision, with only one patient in the SEOM group having pain worsening secondary to Crohn's disease. The most affected muscles were the medial and lateral recti. All the patients were treated with corticosteroids, resulting in rapid improvement. Only one patient in the SEOM group experienced a relapse. Orbital magnetic resonance imaging of all the patients revealed enlargement and contrast enhancement of the involved muscles. Although clinical and radiological features are quite consistent, delayed diagnosis in some patients demonstrates the importance of the awareness of OM.

Cutting the edge of idiopathic recurrent orbital myositis

The spectrum of orbital inflammatory diseases ranges broadly from specific diseases as connective tissue disorders, thyroid ophthalmopathy to non-specific inflammations, which may involve one or multiple structures of the orbit and/ or the surrounding sinus. Idiopathic orbital myositis (IOM) may be a localized process or it can be secondary to systemic diseases. We report 4 patients affected by IOM; in all relapsing diplopia was the main complaint, associated with orbital pain in 3 and with abnormal visual evoked responses in 2. Computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) supported the diagnosis revealing enlargement, altered signal intensity of affected muscles. Repeated MRI scans and extensive laboratory examinations comprising of the search for a remote malignacy, lymproliferative, connective tissue diseases, thyroid ophthalmopathy were necessary to confirm the diagnosis. Oral or/and intravenous steroids were main treatments; relapses often occurred when steroid was tapered down. Intravenous immuneglobulins and azathioprine was used in one refractory case

Painless orbital myositis

Idiopathic orbital inflammation is the third most common orbital disease, following Graves orbitopathy and lymphoproliferative diseases. We present a 11 year old girl with 15 days history of painless diplopia. There was no history of fluctuation of symptoms, drooping of eye lids or diminished vision. She had near total restricted extra-ocular movements and mild proptosis of the right eye. There was no conjunctival injection, chemosis, or bulb pain. There was no eyelid retraction or lid lag. Rest of the neurological examination was unremarkable.Erythrocyte sedimentation rate was raised with eosinophilia. Antinuclear antibodies were positive. Liver, renal and thyroid functions were normal. Antithyroid, double stranded deoxyribonucleic acid and acetylcholine receptor antibodies were negative. Repetitive nerve stimulation was negative. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the orbit was typical of orbital myositis. The patient responded to oral steroids. Orbital myositis can present as painless diplopia. MRI of orbit is diagnostic in orbital myositis.