Idiopathic Orbital Inflammation Presenting as Orbital Cellulitis in a Patient with Laryngeal Cancer

Purpose: To report an idiopathic orbital inflammation presenting as orbital cellulitis in a patient with laryngeal cancer. Methods: Interventional case report Results: A 55-year-old male referred with a 5-day history of left ocular pain, swelling, and ptosis was found to have a left superior orbital mass. He had been treated with oral antibiotics for presumed periorbital infection. Computed tomography revealed an infiltrative mass occupying the left superior orbit. Due to his history of laryngeal cancer with lung metastasis, an incision biopsy was performed. Pathologic examination of the surgical specimen showed a benign nonspecific inflammatory change, which suggested a diagnosis of idiopathic orbital inflammation. He was successfully treated with intraorbital triamcinolone and a 4-month course of oral prednisolone. No evidence of recurrence was noted at 1 year after treatment. Conclusion: Idiopathic orbital inflammation may develop in a patient with underlying malignancy and masquerade as orbital cellulitis. Adequate therapy following prompt biopsy is mandatory for these patients.