Introduction

Orbital cellulitis presents with proptosis, swelling, ophthalmoplegia and redness of the surrounding tissues. Since these symptoms can also be a manifestation of conditions involving the orbital apex, superior orbital fissure or cavernous sinus, clinicians should take these rather exceptional causes into consideration. A patient is presented in whom initially a diagnosis of orbital cellulitis was made, but that later proved to be a giant plasmablastic lymphoma.

Case

A 50-year-old female was referred by the department of ophthalmology with a 3-day history of acute onset progressive proptosis, visual loss and ophthalmoplegia of the left eye (Fig. 1). Her medical history was non-contributory.

Fig. 1
figure 1

Proptosis, peri-orbital swelling, redness, hypoglobus and chemosis of the left eye as well as a temporal mass on the left side upon presentation

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On physical examination, the patient proved to have a high-grade fever (39.7°C). There was ophthalmoplegia, inferior displacement and proptosis of the left globe (Hertel [1]; left 26 mm, right 16 mm). Visual acuity was decreased. Pupils were isocore and indirect pupillary reflexes were normal. Direct pupillary reflex of the left eye was almost absent. There was anaesthesia of the left maxillary and ophthalmic branches (V1 and V2) of the trigeminal nerve. We also found intra-orally multiple foci in the upper as well as in the lower jaw and a painful swelling of the upper left gingivobuccal sulcus. Leucocyte count was normal but C-reactive protein and erythrocyte sedimentation rate were markedly elevated.

Computed tomography (CT) showed an abscess in the left infratemporal fossa with extension of inflammatory tissue to the posterior cranial fossa, temporal fossa, maxillary sinus and orbit. There was also destruction of the skull base. Dental panoramic radiography revealed multiple periapical radiolucencies and caries.

On the basis of these findings, a working diagnosis of an abscess in the left infratemporal fossa with extension to the left orbit causing orbital cellulitis and destruction of the skull base was made. In the differential diagnosis, other possibilities were also taken into consideration, such as a complicating unilateral cavernous sinus thrombosis, osteomyelitis, an underlying malignancy or a rhino-orbito-cerebral mucormycosis.

The patient was immediately transferred to the operating ward with the intention to surgically drain a possible abscess as well as to collect material for further histopathological and microbiological investigations. All teeth were extracted. Peroperatively, no pus was encountered. The left maxillary sinus walls were found to be destroyed and the sinus was filled with pathological tissue. Clindamycin (600 mg q 8 h) was started intravenously. There was a favourable response to this as fever resolved, redness of the periorbita disappeared and swelling and proptosis diminished. Infectious laboratory parameters also quickly normalised. Ophthalmoplegia, sensory disturbance of V1 and V2 and visual acuity did not improve (Fig. 2 and 3).

Fig. 2
figure 2

Ophthalmoplegia on upward gaze

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Fig. 3
figure 3

Ophthalmoplegia on left gaze

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Histopathological investigation revealed a plasmablastic lymphoma. Because this disease is AIDS-related, an HIV test was conducted, which proved to be positive. Postoperatively, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was made to exclude cavernous sinus thrombosis and to better assess the extension of the diagnosed pathology. Multiple masses were seen (Fig. 4). There was encroachment upon the cavernous sinus and infiltration into the orbit, but no signs of cavernous sinus thrombosis.

Fig. 4
figure 4

Axial magnetic resonance image showing huge plasmablastic lymphoma infiltrating the left orbit

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The patient was sent to the haematology department where, after dissemination investigation, 18 courses of rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine and prednisolone chemotherapy (R-CHOP) were given and highly active anti-retroviral therapy consisting of emtricitabine, ritonavir, tenofovir and atazanavir was started. She also received 18 sessions of intrathecal chemotherapy (methotrexate alternated with cytarabine/DAF). Because of partial remission after eight courses of R-CHOP, she also received radiotherapy to the skull. A repeated CT scan showed regression of the lymphoma and re-ossification at the skull base.

Discussion

Orbital cellulitis is an infection of the orbital soft tissues posterior to the orbital septum that presents with rapid progressive ophthalmoplegia, proptosis, swelling of the eye, chemosis, decrease in visual acuity, orbital pain and redness of the eyelid [2].

In the majority of patients, it occurs as a direct extension of infection of the paranasal sinuses, but haematogenous spread of bacteria or direct inoculation by trauma or surgery is also possible [3–5]. Sometimes, a dental focus is the underlying cause [6].

The clinical signs, laboratory abnormalities and the presence of a potential dental focus in this patient were suggestive of an infection, i.e. orbital cellulitis. The orbital apex, cavernous sinus and superior orbital fissure are contiguous structures, which may be affected by a number of conditions (inflammatory, infectious, neoplastic, iatrogenic/trauma, vascular) [7].

Depending on the cranial nerves involved and anatomic areas affected, different syndromes can be described:

  1. 1.

    superior orbital fissure syndrome (cranial nerves III, IV, V1, VI),

  2. 2.

    orbital apex syndrome (cranial nerves II, III, IV, V1, VI),

  3. 3.

    cavernous sinus syndrome (cranial nerves III, IV, V1, V2, VI).

This classification is only of theoretical importance since the close relation between the mentioned anatomical areas causes a rapid and significant clinical overlap in the presentation of pathological entities.

In light of the symptoms of the described patient (involvement of cranial nerves V1 and V2), pathology affecting the cavernous sinus requires special attention as cavernous sinus thrombosis can occur secondary to orbital cellulitis when infection passes posteriorly through the ophthalmic veins. It can begin unilaterally, but will soon progress to become bilateral, and the patient’s state of consciousness is often impaired. MRI scanning can and did exclude this condition [8]. The osseous destruction seen on the CT scan led us to suppose the presence of an aggressive or long-standing infectious condition (e.g. mucormycosis) or malignancy (e.g. lymphoma). This fact was not completely appreciated at first due to the patient’s acute presentation. Rhino-orbito-cerebral mucormycosis is an aggressive fungal infection that occurs in immune-suppressed patients and presents with proptosis, visual loss and ophthalmoplegia among other symptoms [9]. On CT scanning, bony destruction is often encountered and a definite diagnosis can be made on histopathology [10].

Orbital cellulitis as the primary clinical appearance of a lymphoma has been reported in the literature before [11, 12]. The diagnosis of a plasmablastic lymphoma with regard to this is, however, unique. In this case, immunopathology revealed expression of CD45 and a weak expression of CD138 and CD79a. There was no expression of CD56, CD30, CD3, CD20 and CD10. Epstein–Barr virus-encoded RNA in situ hybridisation was positive. Plasmablastic lymphoma is a rare, AIDS-related, non-Hodgkin lymphoma with a noticeable predilection for the oral cavity [13]. This entity was first described by Delecluse et al. [14]. It carries a dismal prognosis with an average survival time of 6 months after diagnosis. At 13 months after diagnosis, our patient is still alive.

In retrospect, although there was an infectious component, the presence of the acute orbital symptoms in this case were most likely secondary to the lymphoma that was widespread to the skull base and orbit.

Yeh et al. presented a diagnostic algorithm for patients with findings consistent with an orbital apex syndrome [7]. Imaging should be performed in all cases, and MRI scanning is considered being superior to other imaging modalities. When inflammatory or infectious disease is suspected, proper laboratory tests should be conducted as well. Obtaining material for histopathological analysis may be required to arrive at a definite diagnosis.

On the basis of this case report, plasmablastic lymphoma may be added to the list of differential diagnoses of orbital cellulitis.