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BRIEF COMMUNICATION
Year : 2016  |  Volume : 64  |  Issue : 3  |  Page : 244-245

A rare case of eyelid sarcoidosis presenting as an orbital mass


1 Department of Histopathology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India
2 Department of Ophthalmology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India

Date of Submission28-May-2015
Date of Acceptance11-Feb-2016
Date of Web Publication4-May-2016

Correspondence Address:
Dr. Kirti Gupta
Department of Histopathology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh
India
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Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None


DOI: 10.4103/0301-4738.181737

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  Abstract 

Intraorbital sarcoidosis presenting externally as a solitary eyelid mass has been described in the literature as isolated case reports. We describe a rare case of asymptomatic sarcoidosis with orbital mass as the presenting feature in a young woman. The lesion was excised with the clinical possibility of a thrombosed varix. On histology, the lesion was characterized by numerous nonnecrotizing epithelioid cell granulomas with several multinucleated giant cells containing abundant asteroid bodies and oxalate crystals. No tubercular bacilli were detected. A diagnosis of sarcoidosis was rendered and on further clinical work-up, she was detected to have hilar lymphadenopathy. Sarcoidosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of orbital mass as it could be the initial manifestation of the disease process.

Keywords: Eyelid, orbital mass, sarcoidosis


How to cite this article:
Gaspar BL, Gupta K, Singh U. A rare case of eyelid sarcoidosis presenting as an orbital mass. Indian J Ophthalmol 2016;64:244-5

How to cite this URL:
Gaspar BL, Gupta K, Singh U. A rare case of eyelid sarcoidosis presenting as an orbital mass. Indian J Ophthalmol [serial online] 2016 [cited 2024 Mar 29];64:244-5. Available from: https://journals.lww.com/ijo/pages/default.aspx/text.asp?2016/64/3/244/181737

Sarcoidosis is a systemic disease with an insidious onset most often affecting adolescents and young adults and presenting frequently with bilateral lymphadenopathy with or without pulmonary infiltration.[1] It is often diagnosed incidentally on routine chest radiography done as a part of evaluation for other diseases. The incidence varies according to age, sex, race, and geographic origin. In an appropriate clinical setting, the diagnosis of sarcoidosis is established based on the demonstration of noncaseating epithelioid cell granulomas which are negative for acid-fast bacilli.[1] Intraorbital sarcoidosis presenting externally as a solitary eyelid mass is extremely uncommon and reported in the literature as isolated single case reports.[2],[3],[4],[5] We present an unusual case of asymptomatic sarcoidosis presenting with an orbital mass as the initial manifestation.


  Case Report Top


A 33-year-old woman presented in the eye clinic with left lower eyelid swelling of 1-year duration without any accompanying systemic symptoms. There was no history of tattooing, trauma, or injection of any sort in the vicinity of the left eye. Examination revealed a bluish-black ill-defined elevated nodular lesion in the left lower eyelid associated with restricted down gaze [Figure 1]a. Coronal contrast enhanced computed tomography (CT) image of the orbit showed a well-defined homogeneous soft tissue mass in the inferior extraconal space [Figure 1]b. The fat plane with the inferior aspect of the globe was lost and no deformity of the globe or erosion of the orbital floor was seen. With a clinical possibility of thrombosed varix, inferior orbitotomy was done. Skin incision 4 mm below the lid margin was given and orbicularis muscle was dissected. A lobulated, dark bluish mass was seen which was adherent to the orbital septum and was arising from the periosteum of the orbital floor. The lesion was excised and submitted for histopathological examination. Gross examination revealed a globular, gray-white tissue measuring 1.5 cm in its greatest dimension. Microscopic examination demonstrated multiple, compact, well-formed, nonnecrotizing epithelioid cell granulomas devoid of any lymphocyte cuffing with numerous multinucleated giant cells containing abundant asteroid bodies and oxalate crystals [Figure 1]c and [Figure 1]d. Stain for acid-fast bacilli was negative, and a diagnosis of sarcoidosis was offered. A retrograde work-up for tuberculosis was done. Mantoux test was negative; however, contrast enhanced and high-resolution CT of the chest showed calcified hypodense right hilar lymph nodes largest measuring 1.1 cm × 0.8 cm. Her blood counts, thyroid function tests, serum calcium, 25(OH) Vitamin D3, phosphate, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE), and albumin levels were normal. However, the autoimmune workup was significant as she had elevated thyroid peroxidase antibodies (63.76 IU/ml), speckled antinuclear antibody (ANA) and elevated C-reactive protein (6 mg/L). Her rheumatoid arthritis factor was negative. Hence, a diagnosis of subclinical sarcoidosis was rendered.
Figure 1: (a) Elevated nodular lesion in the left lower eyelid. (b) A well-defined homogeneous soft tissue mass in the inferior extraconal space visualized in the coronal contrast enhanced computed tomography of the orbit. (c) High magnification demonstrates multiple nonnecrotizing compact epithelioid cell granulomas devoid of any lymphocyte cuffing associated with numerous multinucleated giant cells (H and E, ×400). (d) Asteroid body identified within the giant cells (H and E, ×1000)

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  Discussion Top


Sarcoidosis is an immune-mediated multisystem granulomatous disease of unknown etiology with varied clinical manifestations affecting genetically and ethnically predisposed individuals.[1] While sarcoidosis presenting as eyelid nodules is uncommon, seen in 3% of patients with chronic sarcoidosis;[6] such a mass as the initial manifestation is exceedingly uncommon with single rare cases reported in the English literature.[2],[3],[4],[5] In the index case, the histopathological diagnosis prompted further work-up, thereby asymptomatic pulmonary involvement and circulating autoantibodies were detected. This is not uncommon because the association of sarcoidosis with autoimmune diseases is well known.[7] The patient had a positive ANA test with a speckled pattern which is the most common but least specific pattern encountered. As only 60% of patients with sarcoidosis have raised ACE levels [8] the normal ACE level does not argue against the diagnosis of sarcoidosis in this woman.[8] Since she was completely asymptomatic, we decided to wait and watch instead of proceeding with further specific tests such as Smith antibody (anti-Smith), ribonucleoprotein antibody, Scl-70 kD kinetochore, (anti-topoisomerase I) and anti-La (anti-SSB). In addition, she had elevated thyroid peroxidase antibodies which is also well documented in various studies.[9],[10] While the hypothyroid and euthyroid state in Hashimoto's thyroiditis is well known and such a diagnosis has therapeutic and prognostic implications; complete thyroid function tests done were, however, normal. The patient was explained regarding her basic disease predispositions and advised close follow-up for the recurrence of primary disease and development of other autoimmune manifestations.


  Conclusion Top


This case highlights the importance of considering sarcoidosis in the differential diagnosis of orbital mass and such a presentation could be the initial manifestation of the disease process.

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Conflicts of interest

There are no conflicts of interest.

 
  References Top

1.
Heinle R, Chang C. Diagnostic criteria for sarcoidosis. Autoimmun Rev 2014;13:383-7.  Back to cited text no. 1
    
2.
Imes RK, Reifschneider JS, O'Connor LE. Systemic sarcoidosis presenting initially with bilateral orbital and upper lid masses. Ann Ophthalmol 1988;20:466-7, 469.  Back to cited text no. 2
    
3.
Cacciatori M, McLaren KM, Kearns PP. Sarcoidosis presenting as a cutaneous eyelid mass. Br J Ophthalmol 1997;81:329-30.  Back to cited text no. 3
[PUBMED]    
4.
Lee JK, Moon NJ. Orbital sarcoidosis presenting as diffuse swelling of the lower eyelid. Korean J Ophthalmol 2013;27:52-4.  Back to cited text no. 4
    
5.
Biswas J, Krishnakumar S, Raghavendran R, Mahesh L. Lid swelling and diplopia as presenting features of orbital sarcoid. Indian J Ophthalmol 2000;48:231-3.  Back to cited text no. 5
[PUBMED]  Medknow Journal  
6.
Jabs DA, Johns CJ. Ocular involvement in chronic sarcoidosis. Am J Ophthalmol 1986;102:297-301.  Back to cited text no. 6
[PUBMED]    
7.
Sharma OP. Sarcoidosis and other autoimmune disorders. Curr Opin Pulm Med 2002;8:452-6.  Back to cited text no. 7
    
8.
Iannuzzi MC, Rybicki BA, Teirstein AS. Sarcoidosis. N Engl J Med 2007;357:2153-65.  Back to cited text no. 8
    
9.
Isern V, Lora-Tamayo J, Capdevila O, Villabona C, Mañá J. Sarcoidosis and autoimmune thyroid disease. A case series of ten patients. Sarcoidosis Vasc Diffuse Lung Dis 2007;24:148-52.  Back to cited text no. 9
    
10.
Antonelli A, Fazzi P, Fallahi P, Ferrari SM, Grosso M, Boni G, et al. Thyroid uptake of 67Ga-citrate is associated with thyroid autoimmunity and hypothyroidism in patients with sarcoidosis. Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging 2009;36:137-43.  Back to cited text no. 10
    


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