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Frontoethmoid sinus osteoma as a cause of subperiosteal orbital abscess

Abstract

A 65-year-old woman presented with severe periorbital pain and swelling of the left eye, with complete ptosis, proptosis, and conjunctival chemosis. The eye was in a hypotropic position, and activity in the left superior rectus was inadequate. A firm, elastic, 2-cm mass was palpated near the superior orbital rim. Computed tomography revealed a subperiosteal abscess (SPA) at the superior portion of the orbit and a large frontoethmoidal sinus osteoma. After the SPA had been surgically drained and the osteoma completely removed, the patient recovered, with resolution of proptosis, ptosis, and motility limitations. Osteomas of the paranasal sinuses are usually asymptomatic and rarely cause SPA and orbital cellulitis. Therefore, osteoma cases must be closely followed to ensure that early diagnosis and treatment of SPA are successful in preventing severe visual loss and rescuing the patient’s vision.

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Correspondence to Afsun Sahin MD.

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Sahin, A., Yildirim, N., Cingi, E. et al. Frontoethmoid sinus osteoma as a cause of subperiosteal orbital abscess. Adv Therapy 24, 571–574 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02848779

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02848779

Keywords

  • osteoma
  • subperiosteal abscess
  • orbital cellulitis