Quiz: 6-Month-Old Male With Left Eye Periorbital Edema

A 6-month-old male presents with left eye periorbital edema. His mother states that four days prior, the patient suffered an accidental “headbutt” from his older brother when the brother leaned backward and his head hit the patient around their left eye and forehead. The mother noticed immediate left eye periorbital edema and erythema. Since the injury, the patient’s left eye has progressively swollen shut and he is unable to spontaneously open the eye (see photo). She also noticed that the child cannot move the left eye when she forcibly opens his eyelids.

Your examination reveals a normal-appearing right eye with normal fixation and tracking behavior. However, the left eye has a complete ptosis and when you open the eyelid, you note poor tracking behavior, and a round, non-reactive, 4mm pupil with an rAPD. Additionally, the eye is exotropic and there is limited motility (ductions) in all directions as well as moderate proptosis and displacement of the globe inferiorly. Dilated fundus exam is notable only for possible mild pallor of the left optic disc. A CT scan of the head was performed at an outside hospital and was read as “Normal CT of the head”.

Case contributed by: Lucas W. Rowe, MD. Indiana University School of Medicine

77 thoughts on “Quiz: 6-Month-Old Male With Left Eye Periorbital Edema”

  1. Gracias por compartir un caso muy interesante, el uso de recursos tecnológicos que llevan a un diagnóstico preciso.

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  2. A challenging case and informative case presentation.
    Thanks for sharing these types of scientific articles.

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  3. Quite interesting. The lesson to be learnt here is meticulous attention to history and clinical examinations. This was a 6 months old child that could bave been easily misdiagnosed.
    Thanks to the contributor / Cybersight Team.

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    • Lo siento, no pude traducir al español, las opciones que puedo traducir lo veo súper importantes y enriquecedoras, me permiten fortalecer mis conocimientos y por ende mejor mis habilidades y mejor servicio a los pacientito. Gracias Orbis👏🏽❣

      Reply
    • Lo siento, no pude traducir al español, las opciones que puedo traducir lo veo súper importantes y enriquecedoras, me permiten fortalecer mis conocimientos y por ende mejor mis habilidades y mejor servicio a los pacientito. Gracias Orbis👏🏽❣

      Reply
  4. Very interesting case, I still believe doing CT scan first, more easy, practical and available, also to exclude any bony erosion.

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  5. I still think than the ultrasound is the first imaging that should be performed. It does not require sedation, it is quick, painless, and especially for rhabdomyosarcoma Ascan analysis is very accurate! MRI should also be performed, of course, but US gives you head start in quick organisation of further treatment without delay. The availability of MRI in different countries should be taken in consideration in this question!
    Nevertheless, nice case!
    Kind regards

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  6. Very interesting case report with MRI diagnostic findings.
    All the salient points about Rhabdomyosarcoma are given for refreshing the knowledge about this tumour for the praticing ophthalmologists.
    Thank you very much.

    Reply

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