Periorbital cellulitis as the initial presentation of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.

A girl in early childhood with no significant medical history developed left eye periorbital oedema and erythema. She was treated with intravenous antibiotics for suspected severe periorbital cellulitis. Despite treatment, the patient's cellulitis progressed into necrotising fasciitis, and she was transferred for ophthalmology review and imaging. A CT scan and eye swab culture-confirmed Staphylococcus aureus periorbital cellulitis. Incidentally, pathology revealed significant pancytopenia suspicious of leukaemia. The patient underwent bone marrow biopsy and was diagnosed with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL). A multidisciplinary specialist assessment revealed no ocular evidence of leukaemia and no intraocular concerns. In medical literature, it is consistently found that cases of ALL initially manifesting as proptosis or eyelid oedema are invariably due to neoplastic infiltration. This case represents unique documentation where periorbital cellulitis is the initial presentation of B-cell ALL, underscoring the necessity to consider periorbital cellulitis as a possible differential diagnosis in ophthalmic manifestations of ALL.

Management of oculo-orbital complications of odontogenic sinusitis in adults.

Introduction: Odontogenic maxillary sinusitis (OMS) is an infectious inflammatory pathology caused by a dental condition. Considering the anatomical relations with the orbit, maxillary sinus infection can easily spread, evolving into severe oculo-orbital complications that can sometimes be life-threatening. Material and methods: We performed a retrospective study of over 2 years, examining the data of 18 patients diagnosed with OMS with oculo-orbital complications. The patients were evaluated regarding their dental history, symptoms, clinical and endoscopic findings, ophthalmologic evaluation, bacteriologic tests, computed tomography (CT) imaging, medical and surgical treatment, and outcomes. Results: The age of the patients was between 24 and 65 years old with an almost equal gender distribution: 10 female and 8 male patients. From the total, 7 patients had type II diabetes, 2 of whom were insulin-dependent, 1 patient had thrombophilia and 2 patients had renal failure with peritoneal dialysis. Regarding the type of oculo-orbital complications, 10 patients were diagnosed with preseptal cellulitis and 8 with orbital cellulitis. Just 5 patients with orbital cellulitis required surgical treatment and orbitotomy was performed, followed by endonasal endoscopic drainage. The evolution after surgical treatment was favorable for all operated patients. Discussions: Oculo-orbital complications of OMS are typically more severe than those of rhinogenic sinusitis because anaerobic bacteria are involved. Immunosuppression represents a favorable environment for the development of OMS and its complications, diabetes being the most common risk factor. A negative prognostic feature is the appearance of ophthalmological symptoms in both eyes, so visual function may be reduced. The treatment of oculo-orbital complications of OMS is urgent and depends on a broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy associated or not with surgical intervention. Conclusions: The diagnosis of oculo-orbital complications of OMS is complex and requires clinical experience as well as extensive medical knowledge to treat both the cause and the consequences of the conditions quickly and effectively. The proper management of oculo-orbital complications is based on a multidisciplinary team: ophthalmology, ENT, dentistry, imaging, and laboratory. Abbreviations: OMS = odontogenic maxillary sinusitis, CT = computed tomography, ENT = ear-nose-throat, MRI = magnetic resonance imaging, HNS = head and neck surgery.

Orbital Abscess Secondary to Nasolacrimal Duct Obstruction in an Extremely Preterm Infant.

Orbital abscesses are rarely encountered in children younger than 1 year. The literature is limited to isolated case reports and a few case series. Most such cases are reported in infants born at term, with the earliest reported gestational birth age at 34 weeks. Children are more prone to orbital cellulitis compared with adults due to their underdeveloped sinuses and immature immune systems, and the origin is most commonly an ethmoid sinus infection. Orbital cellulitis secondary to dacryocystitis is even less common, with only a few isolated cases reported in infants and children. Herein, the authors present a case of a large extraconal and intraconal orbital abscess secondary to nasolacrimal duct obstruction and dacryocystitis in an extremely preterm infant. We discuss the diagnosis and multidisciplinary management of this challenging case.

Role of Acute Rhinosinusitis in Periorbital Infections in Children.

OBJECTIVE: Periorbital cellulitis in children are commonly caused by acute rhinosinusitis (ARS). This study investigated the association of ARS and the severity of periorbital cellulitis in children. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective case-control study of children with periorbital cellulitis with ARS versus periorbital cellulitis without ARS. SETTING: Patients were seen at West Virginia University Children's Hospitals between August 2011 to August 2022. METHODS: Patients were divided into cases and controls based on presence or absence of ARS. ARS was defined based on clinical symptoms with objective presence of disease on CT scan. Patients' characteristics, treatment, hospital length of stay, and readmission were collected. RESULTS: The sample consisted of 118 pediatric patients with orbital cellulitis. Patients with ARS were younger than patients without ARS (6.3 vs 8.5, p = 0.025), however there were no sex differences between two groups (p = 0.540). The ARS group had higher incidence of postseptal cellulitis (51.5% vs 9.6%, p < 0.001). As compared to patients without ARS, patients with ARS were more likely to be admitted (p < 0.001), have a longer length of stay (median of 3.5 days vs 0.5 days, p < 0.001), require IV antibiotics (95.3% vs 54.9%, p < 0.001), and require surgical intervention (23.1% vs 5.8%, p < 0.001). Readmission rate was similar between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Children presenting with acute periorbital cellulitis who have ARS tend to have more severe infection requiring higher level of care. ARS should be assessed and incorporated into the plan of care of pediatric patients with periorbital infections.

Visual outcomes following orbital decompression for orbital infections.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the visual outcomes and sequelae of endonasal intervention for orbital infections. INTRODUCTION: Orbital infections pose a serious threat to vision in the pediatric population and can result in complications such as blindness, diplopia, intracranial involvement, and death. [1] Orbital decompression by endonasal intervention is a common treatment to address a variety of orbital infections including orbital cellulitis, orbital abscesses, and subperiosteal abscesses. [2] The outcomes of visual sequelae such as loss or limitation of visual acuity, extraocular movements, and increased intraocular pressure following orbital decompression via endonasal intervention have not been sufficiently investigated in the current literature. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study was performed at our tertiary care pediatric hospital using data from 69 patients aged 0-18 years who were admitted between 2008 and 2018. Data was extracted from the electronic medical record system. RESULTS: Following endoscopic sinus surgery, symptoms of orbital infection improved throughout the cohort. Improvement in visual acuity is demonstrated by a statistically significant decrease in the average logMAR value in both the right and left eye (P = 0.002 and P = 0.028 respectively). There was also a significant improvement to normal values postoperatively for patients who initially presented with abnormal tonometry, extraocular movement, and the appearance of eyelids and eyelashes. CONCLUSION: There is no decline or loss of vision with otolaryngology surgical intervention for orbital cellulitis in our cohort. This retrospective chart review demonstrates the efficacy of surgical intervention on overall visual outcomes following endonasal intervention for orbital infections such as orbital cellulitis, orbital abscesses, and subperiosteal abscesses.

Orbital cellulitis with panophthalmitis and scleral necrosis - a case report.

BACKGROUND: Orbital cellulitis is common in young children and is often secondary to coexisting sinus disease. Coexisting orbital cellulitis and panophthalmitis is a rare clinical event and usually occurs secondary to trauma or from an endogenous source. CASE PRESENTATION: A febrile 2-year-old male presented with periorbital inflammation and exudative retinal detachment. Imaging showed acute sinusitis and extensive orbital cellulitis. Because of progressive scleral thinning, the patient underwent enucleation. CONCLUSION: We present a case of concurrent orbital cellulitis, panophthalmitis, and scleral necrosis in an immunocompetent pediatric patient. Timely intervention is important to prevent life threatening complications with the rare occurrence of coexistent orbital cellulitis and panophthalmitis.

Painless Orbital Bone Infarction in a Child with Sickle Cell Anemia: A Case of Misdiagnosed Periorbital Cellulitis.

BACKGROUND Sickle cell orbitopathy is a rare complication of sickle cell disease that closely mimics other conditions, such as orbital cellulitis and osteomyelitis. We report a case of painless orbital bone infarction masquerading as periorbital cellulitis in a child with sickle cell anemia. CASE REPORT A 4-year-old Saudi girl with sickle cell disease presented to our hospital with vaso-occlusive crisis characterized by bilateral lower limb pain and painless left orbital swelling. On examination, she had swelling of the left upper eyelid with redness and mild ptosis (margin reflex distance 1 was 2 mm) without proptosis. Magnetic resonance imaging with contrast showed bilateral sub-periosteal heterogeneous collections (2×0.8×2.1 cm in the superolateral wall of the left orbit and 1×0.6 cm in the inferolateral wall of the right orbit), with intermediate-to-high T1 signal intensity and high T2 signal, causing a mass effect on the adjacent superior and lateral rectus muscles. The patient was treated with systemic antibiotics and supportive treatment for vaso-occlusive crisis under the care of the pediatric team and was discharged without complications. CONCLUSIONS The diagnosis of sickle cell orbitopathy can be challenging, and an accurate diagnosis is essential to ensure appropriate management. Thus, we report the case of a 4-year-old child with painless sickle cell orbitopathy masquerading as pre-septal cellulitis.

Transnasal endoscopic drainage of neonatal orbital abscess.

Neonatal orbital complications are rare and potentially fatal, demanding prompt diagnosis and adequate treatment. A 25-day-old neonate presented with rapidly progressive orbital complications as evidenced by proptosis, chemosis, lid oedema and restricted eye movements, developing within 3 days. There was no significant medical history or risk factors for developing infection. An initial conservative approach with antimicrobial therapy failed to show any resolve. An MRI brain, orbits and paranasal sinuses demonstrated that there were features suggestive of right orbital cellulitis with possibility of abscess formation with right ethmoidal mucoinflammatory disease and mass effect on the optic nerve causing stretching and compression by the surrounding inflammation.The patient was treated successfully with transnasal endoscopic drainage and decompression. Endoscopic access was challenging owing to the restrictive anatomy. Postoperatively, the patient showed improvement, with gradual decrease in proptosis and resolve in eye movements.

Revisiting the orbital complications of acute rhinosinusitis.

OBJECTIVE: The present study revisited three classification systems of orbital complications of acute rhinosinusitis (ARS) (Chandler, Mortimore & Wormald, and Velasco e Cruz & Anselmo-Lima) and observed which of them presented the best clinical applicability. METHODS: Clinical data and CT scan findings of patients with orbital infection were retrospectively collected. To compare the three classification systems, we revised and graded all CT images accordingly, and divided the patients into four groups: Eyelid cellulitis (EC), orbital cellulitis (OC), subperiosteal abscess (SA), and orbital abscess (OA). The groups were compared regarding the presence of sinus opacification, the need for hospitalization and/or surgical treatment, and the presence of further complications/sequelae. RESULTS: 143 patients were included. The median number of sinuses involved in patients in the OC, SA, and OA groups was 2.0. ARS was rarely associated with signs of EC (present in both Chandler's and Mortimore & Wormald's classifications. The hospitalization rate was significantly lower in the EC group compared to the other three groups. Surgery was performed in all cases in the OA group, in 58.1% in the SA group, 19.4% in the OC group, and 12.5% in the EC group (p-value < 0.0001). Complications were present at higher rates in the OA group compared to the other three groups. CONCLUSIONS: ARS was rarely associated with Eyelid Cellulitis. The stratification in the other three groups showed to be clinically relevant. Velasco e Cruz & Anselmo-Lima's classification system proved valid, simple, and effective for categorizing orbital complications of ARS.

Case Report: Vision Loss in a Child Caused by Streptococcus constellatus.

PURPOSE: We present a rare case of Streptococcus constellatus -induced odontogenic orbital cellulitis. METHODS: An 8-year-old boy presented to an outpatient clinic with complaints of right-sided toothache, right eye swelling, and decreased visual acuity. He was referred to a pediatric critical care department for further management. Comprehensive diagnostic assessments, such as ophthalmic examination, blood tests, computed tomography, and MRI, were performed. RESULTS: On presentation, the best-corrected visual acuities were 20/250 and 20/20 in the right and left eyes, respectively. Examination revealed grade 2+ eyelid edema and erythema and grade 4+ chemosis and exophthalmos in the right eye. The patient displayed restricted eye movements in all directions. Blood tests revealed a total white blood cell count of 12,100 cells/µL. Axial and coronal computed tomography revealed right-sided maxillary sinus, ethmoidal sinus, and orbital abscesses. Therefore, the patient was diagnosed with septicemia, orbital cellulitis, and orbital apex syndrome in the right eye. Intravenous antibiotics were administered; paracentesis of the orbital abscess was performed under local anesthesia. However, the patient's condition worsened, resulting in a complete loss of light perception in the right eye. Accordingly, surgery was performed under general anesthesia within 24 hours of admission; the surgery involved drainage of the orbital abscess through an inferior intraorbital incision, as well as drainage of the ethmoid sinus and maxillary sinus abscesses via nasal endoscopy. A culture obtained from the orbital abscess yielded S. constellatus . The infection was managed by a combination of surgical intervention, antibiotics, steroids, and hyperbaric oxygen therapy. However, because of optic nerve injury, vision in the affected eye partially recovered to 20/200. CONCLUSIONS: Streptococcus constellatus -induced pediatric orbital cellulitis can result in significant morbidity. The significant improvement in vision, from no light perception to 20/200, emphasizes the importance of timely diagnosis and treatment in patients who present with acute orbital cellulitis and vision loss symptoms.

Bacterial orbital cellulitis - A review.

Infections of orbit and periorbita are frequent, leading to significant morbidity. Orbital cellulitis is more common in children and young adults. At any age, infection from the neighboring ethmoid sinuses is a likely cause and is thought to result from anatomical characteristics like thin medial wall, lack of lymphatics, orbital foramina, and septic thrombophlebitis of the valveless veins between the two. Other causes are trauma, orbital foreign bodies, preexisting dental infections, dental procedures, maxillofacial surgeries, Open Reduction and Internal Fixation (ORIF), and retinal buckling procedures. The septum is a natural barrier to the passage of microorganisms. Orbital infections are caused by Gram-positive, Gram-negative organisms and anaerobes in adults and in children, usually by Staphylococcus aureus or Streptococcus species. Individuals older than 15 years of age are more likely to harbor polymicrobial infections. Signs include diffuse lid edema with or without erythema, chemosis, proptosis, and ophthalmoplegia. It is an ocular emergency requiring admission, intravenous antibiotics, and sometimes surgical intervention. Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are the main modalities to identify the extent, route of spread from adjacent structures, and poor response to intravenous antibiotics and to confirm the presence of complications. If orbital cellulitis is secondary to sinus infection, drainage of pus and establishment of ventilation to the sinus are imperative. Loss of vision can occur due to orbital abscess, cavernous sinus thrombosis, optic neuritis, central retinal artery occlusion, and exposure keratopathy, and possible systemic sequelae include meningitis, intracranial abscess, osteomyelitis, and death. The article was written by authors after a thorough literature search in the PubMed-indexed journals.

Concurrent Pansinusitis and Orbital Cellulitis Complicated by Extensive Head and Neck Venous Thrombosis in an Unvaccinated Adolescent Patient with COVID-19: A Case Report.

BACKGROUND: Orbital cellulitis is an infrequent but serious infectious complication of rhinosinusitis, most commonly seen in the pediatric population. Extension into the cavernous sinus, leading to further infection and thrombosis, is a rare but life-threatening complication. Although COVID-19 has been linked to an increased risk of venous thromboembolism, most cases involve extremity deep venous thrombosis or pulmonary embolism; reports of intracranial or jugular system thrombosis are rare. CASE REPORT: We describe a case of a 17-year-old female patient with no significant medical history or thrombotic risk factors found to have orbital cellulitis and severe pansinusitis, complicated by multiple venous thromboses in the head and neck requiring emergent surgical intervention and pediatric intensive care admission. WHY SHOULD AN EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN BE AWARE OF THIS?: Extensive head and neck venous thrombosis and intracranial abscesses are rare complications of pansinusitis and orbital cellulitis, and the thrombotic complications of COVID-19 are well documented. A delay in diagnosis and treatment can lead to potentially devastating consequences.

Serologic Evaluations in the Distinction Between Sinusitis-Related Orbital Cellulitis and Periorbital Necrotizing Fasciitis.

PURPOSE: While sinusitis-related orbital cellulitis (SROC) and periorbital necrotizing fasciitis (PNF) share similar clinical presentations, they are managed differently, making rapid recognition of the appropriate clinical entity critical to optimal outcomes. This study was performed to assess whether serologic testing might help clinicians to distinguish between SROC and PNF. METHODS: A retrospective review analysis was used to compare initial complete blood counts and comprehensive metabolic panels among adult patients with SROC and PNF. Statistical evaluations were used to determine the significance of differences between the groups. RESULTS: Thirteen patients with PNF and 14 patients with SROC were identified. The 2 groups were similar in age, gender, and likelihood of immunosuppression ( p > 0.05 for each metric). Mean leukocyte counts were 18.52 (standard deviation = 7.02) and 10.31 (standard deviation = 5.77) for PNF and SROC, respectively ( p = 0.0057). White blood cell levels were above normal limits for 12 patients with PNF (92.3%) and 7 patients with SROC (50%) ( p = 0.017). No other laboratory test was significantly different between the 2 groups. CONCLUSIONS: While the majority of serologic testing was quite similar in patients with either SROC or PNF, leukocyte levels may represent an important clue to distinguish between the two diseases. Clinical evaluation remains the gold standard to make the proper diagnosis, but markedly elevated white blood cell counts should prompt clinicians to at least consider a diagnosis of PNF.

Orbital abscess a rare complication after bichectomy surgery.

Bichectomy is the partial removal of the Bichat's fat pad for the aim of smoothing the facial contour. The complications of bichectomy include soft tissue infections, hematoma, facial paralysis (especially buccal branch paralysis), stenon canal injuries and related complications such as sialocele and sialoadenitis, however these are not common complications in clinical practice. Here we report a case of a 29-year-old white female with a right sided orbital abscess following bichectomy. Right sided orbital abscess and orbital cellulitis was managed with endoscopic decompression and drainage. The patient healed completely with no sequela. The frequency of major complications leading to moridity after bichectomy is rare in the literature. This is the first reported intraorbital complication of bichectomy.

[Odontogenic infection as cause of orbital cellulitis]. / Een dentale oorzaak van orbitale cellulitis.

BACKGROUND: Orbital cellulitis is a potentially life-threatening condition. Compression of the optical nerve can cause total or partial loss of vision. Early diagnosis is crucial to prevent complications. In case of a unilateral sinusitis as cause of a unilateral orbital cellulitis complete clinical and dental examination combined with imaging are essential in diagnostics. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 53-year-old man presented with left eye movement impairment, intermittent diplopia and moderate swelling of the left lower eyelid. His diagnosis was post septal orbital cellulitis and despite administration of oral antibiotics no clinical improvement was observed. Orbital imaging by CT could not exclude a dental cause of his unilateral maxillary sinusitis. He was referred to the department of oral and maxillofacial surgery where clinical examination showed a dental cause. After removal of two decayed upper molars a complete recovery was accomplished. CONCLUSION: Odontogenic causes for unilateral orbital cellulitis should always be considered in diagnostics in adults. Clinical presentation and dental examination combined with adequate imaging can confirm the diagnosis.

Orbital bone infarction masquerading as preseptal cellulitis in a child with sickle beta-thalassaemia.

Although several ophthalmic manifestations of sickle cell disease (SCD) are common, orbital bone infarction is rare. Orbital bones have less bone marrow creating an unlikely place to develop infarction. However, having a patient with SCD presenting with periorbital swelling should warrant imaging to rule out bone infarction. We present a case of a child with sickle beta-thalassaemia who was misdiagnosed with preseptal cellulitis in the right eye. Later upon review of the subtle signs of bone infarction in imaging, she was discovered to have orbital bone infarction.