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ARTICLES |
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Year : 1971 | Volume
: 19
| Issue : 2 | Page : 61-66 |
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Primary reticulo-endothelial tumours of orbit
Hari Mohan, Dhan K Sen, PK Chatterjee
Department of Ophthalmology and Pathology, Irwin Hospital and Maulana Azad Medical College, New Delhi, India
Correspondence Address: Hari Mohan Department of Ophthalmology and Pathology, Irwin Hospital and Maulana Azad Medical College, New Delhi India
Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None | Check |
PMID: 15744971
How to cite this article: Mohan H, Sen DK, Chatterjee P K. Primary reticulo-endothelial tumours of orbit. Indian J Ophthalmol 1971;19:61-6 |
The orbit may be affected in reticulo-endothelial tumours. This usually occurs late in the disease and there is no great problem in the differential diagnosis; biopsy is rarely indicated. Occasionally, however, orbit is the first and the only part of the body involved (O'Brien and Leinfelder[7], de Treigry[12], Reese[8], Tavares[11], van Wien [13] , Forrests) and in that event diagnosis as to the nature of the tumour is extremely difficult without biopsy as systemic examination and blood picture are usually of little help in all such cases.
We came across fourteen cases of reticulo-endothelial tumours in our special clinic over a period of 10 years. In 6 of them, orbital involvement was late during the course of an already generalized lymphomatous disease. In 3 cases proptosis was the presenting feature of the disease but by the time patients reported to the hospital the condition had progressed to involve the other parts of the body. Only in the remaining five cases the affection was clinically limited to the orbit when first seen.
The purpose of this communication is to present the five cases in the last category along with the results obtained with radiotherapy.
Case Reports | | |
Case 1, a 49-year-old male, presented with protrusion of the right globe and a gradually increasing swelling in the upper and inner quadrant of the orbit for about 3 years. The right globe was displaced downwards and forwards [Figure - 1]. On palpation through the upper lid the mass was soft and appeared to extend forwards from deep in the orbit. Overlying skin was normal and free from the swelling. Exophthalmometric reading (Hertel) 26 mm. (normal left eye 15 mm.). Elevation of the right eye was defective. Visual acuity 6/12; (nor mal left eye 6/6). Fundus examination revealed papilloedema.
Systemic examination disclosed no abnormality. Skiagraph revealed enlargement of optic foramen on the right side. Blood picture and bone marrow study were normal. Rest of the investigations yielded negative information. Orbit was opened up by Kronlein's procedure and major part of the growth was removed [Figure - 2]. Histopathological examination revealed the tumour mass composed of uniform round cells with scanty basophilic cytoplasm and large nuclei many of which contained fairly prominent nucleoli. Mitotic figures were seen in moderate numbers-a picture compatible with lymphoblastic lymphoma [Figure - 3].
As the whole of the tumour could not be removed the patient was put on radiotherapy. With a total dose of 1500r spread over a period of 2 weeks the proptosis disappeared rapidly and completely. Visual acuity improved to 6/9. There was no recurrence during a follow-up period of 6 years.
Case 2, a 12-year-old female, presented with one year's history of steadily increasing proptosis on the right side. The globe was almost dislocated [Figure - 4]. Palpation through the upper lid revealed a firm mass in the orbit which was not tender. There was no systemic involvement. Repeated blood and bone marrow studies were normal. Other investigations were all negative. The eye was enucleated as it was blind. Biopsy of retrobulbar mass proved it to be a lymphoblastic lymphoma.
She received a total dose of 2000r in 5 applications. Response was very good. No recurrence after a follow-up period of 5 years.
Case 3, a 25-year-old female reported to the hospital with 2 years, history of right proptosis and irregular swelling in the upper and upper--inner part of the orbit extending on to the nasal region and forehead. There was history of operation done elsewhere about 4 weeks before she reported to the hospital which resulted in a non-healing irregular wound at the medical part of the swelling. The right globe was grossly deviated forwards, downwards and outwards [Figure - 5]. Conjunctival and retinal vessels were engorged but no papilloedema. Exophthalmometric reading (Hertel) 28 mm. (normal left eye 14 mm.). Visual acuity 6/18 (normal left eye 6/5). Palpation revealed a firm irregular mass which was not tender. There was no systemic involvement. All investigations including repeated differential blood count and study of bone marrow were negative excepting skigraphy which showed some reactive hyperplasia of the supra-orbital margin. Anterior orbitotcmy was done to remove a piece of tissue. Histopathological examination ' revealed this to be again a case of lymphoblastic lymphoma. She was put on radiotherapy. A decided improvement was noticed immediately after the first exposure and proptosis disappeared almost completely after the completion of therapy. The eyesight improved to 6/9. The patient was last seen after a period of 5½ years. No recurrence of the tumour was in evidence. However, mild degree of residual proptosis was noticeable.
Case 4, a 35-year-old female, reported to the hospital with the history of gradually increasing protrusion of the left globe with deterioration of vision and bulging of left upper lid for about 1 year.
She had been hit on the forehead by a stone just above the left eye 6 months previously. On palpation through the upper lid a soft to firm irregular mass was felt in the orbit. Superior orbital margin was irregular and tender on pressure. Left eye ball was displaced forwards and downwards [Figure - 6].
Vision 6/9. Systemic examination revealed no abnormality. Blood picture and bone marrow studies were normal. Other investigations gave negative results. Skiagraph revealed thickening of the supra orbital margin. Biopsy revealed the tumour to be reticulum cell sarcoma. Histopathological section showed uniform spreading of the tumour cells having abundant cytoplasm and vesicular nuclei with distinct nucleoli. Many of the nuclei were infolded giving them a reniform appearance [Figure - 7].
She was put on radiotherapy. With a total dose of 2500r over a period of 3 weeks proptosis disappeared almost completely. Follow-up for a period of 7 years revealed no recurrence.
Case 5, a 24-year old female reported to the hospital with Hodgkin's disease which manifested initially in the left orbit. The diagnosis was established by biopsy. Response to radiotherapy was quite satisfactory. No recurrence after a period of seven years (Sen, Mohan and Chatterjee [10] ).
Discussion and Comments | | |
Tumours arising from reticuloendothelial system are classified according to their tissue of origin. Lymphomas are neoplasia of the lymphatic line whereas reticulnm cell sarcoma is a neoplasia of the reticular line. Hodgkin's disease involves both lymphocytic and reticular lines. Any of these tumours may involve the orbit primarily or as a part of generalized involvement. Lymphoid tissue around the eye is most commonly encountered sub-conjunctivally and in the lacrimal gland. It is at these sites, therefore, the lymphomatous tumours are most likely to appear. Such tumours deep in the orbit are usually in the nature of reticulum cell sarcoma (Reese[9]). It is of great interest to note ,hat we came across 3 cases of lymphoblastic lyphoma deep in the orbit where there is normally no lymphoid tissue. Such occurrence is ascribed to the presence of foetal remnants and pre-existing lymphoid elements (Coats [1] ).
Reticulo-endothelial tumours of the orbit have been regarded as uncommon (Duke-Elder [2] ). Recently a 10 to 20 percent. Incidence has been reported (Reese, [9] Mortada[5], Haye and Haut[4]). In our series the incidence has been 8.5 per cent. of all proptosis cases and 17.1; per cent. of all primary orbital tumours. The lymphoblastic lymphomas are highly differentiated tumours and of benign clinical habit; Lymphadenoma (Hodgkin's disease) may also behave in a similar fashion (case 5); but it is very rare for a reticulum cell sarcoma to remain confined to the orbit for any length of time. These lesions may arise at any age. The onset is so insidious that the patients present themselves not because of symptoms but because of cosmetic disfigurement either in the form of a mass under the conjunctiva or skin or displacement of the globe. Diagnosis is usually established by biopsy after excluding the other possible causes of proptosis. Histological typing of such tumours is very important from the point of view of prognosis as to life expectancy but may at times be extremely difficult because of their common origin. The picture is so variable that some of the cases are even misdiagnosed as chronic granulomas especially in the early stages. The cases we came across, however, were typical and did not present much difficulty in establishing the nature of the lesion. Radiological evidence of enlarged optic foramen in some cases (case 1) may be misleading. Difficulties are also encountered with while removing them surgically as they are not encapsulated. Fortunately they are all highly radiosensitive. Radiotherapy at a stage when the lesion is clinically confined to the orbit have been most encouraging. In three cases there was complete regression of proptosis and in the remaining two cases regression was considerable. A 5-7 years' follow-up revealed no recurrence in any of the 5 cases. Prognosis, therefore, appears to be very good with radiotherapy in patients with lesions clinically confined to the orbit.
Summary | | |
The incidence of reticulo-endothelial tumours has been 17.1 per cent. of primary orbital turnours. Only in 5 cases the lesion was clinically confined to the orbit when first seen. The results of irradiation in these type of lesions have been most encouraging. A 5-7 years' follow-up shows permanent regression of the tumour in all the 5 cases.
References | | |
1. | COATS.: Arch. Ophthal. 44. 221, 235. (1915). Cited in 2 . |
2. | DUKE-ELDER. S.: Text Book of Ophthalmology. Vol. V, PP. 5348-5555. Henry Kimptoo, London. (1952.) |
3. | FORREST, A. W.: Intraorbital Tumours, Arch. Ophthal (Chicago), 41, 198, (1949). |
4. | HAYE, C AND HAUT, J.: Arch. Ophthal. (Paris). 26, 133 (1966). Cited in 6. |
5. | MORTADA, A.: Nature of lymphoid Tumours of the Orbit, Conjunctive, Eye lids and Lacrimal Gland. Amer. J. Ophth. 57, 320, (1964). |
6. | NOLAN, J.: Reticulo-endothelial Tumours of the Orbit. Brit. J. Ophth. 52, 532. (1968). |
7. | O'BRIEN, C. S. AND LEIi1'ir ELDER, P. J.: Unilateral Exopi- thalmos. Amer, J. Ophth. 18, 123, (1935). |
8. | REESE, A. B.: Orbital Tumours and their Surgical Management. Amer. J. Ophth. 24, 386, 497, (1941). |
9. | REESE, A. B.: Tumours of the Eye, 2nd Ed., pp. 533 et seq. Hoeber, New York. (1963) |
10. | SEN, D. K. MOHAN, H. AND CHATTERJEE, P. K.: Hodgkin's Disease of the Orbit. (In Press). |
11. | TAVARES.: Bol. S. Portug., Oft., V. 61. (1947). Cited in 2. |
12. | DE TREIGNY.: Bull.s, d'o Paris, 48, 406, (1936). Cited in 2. |
13. | WIEN, S. VAN.: Lymphocytoma of the Orbit successfully treated by Roentgen Irradiation. Amer, J. Ophth. 31, 209. (1948). |
[Figure - 1], [Figure - 2], [Figure - 3], [Figure - 4], [Figure - 5], [Figure - 6], [Figure - 7]
[Table - 1]
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