Orbital involvement in cherubism

Ophthalmology. 2001 Oct;108(10):1884-8. doi: 10.1016/s0161-6420(01)00757-6.

Abstract

Purpose: To demonstrate the clinical, radiologic, and histopathologic features of a patient with orbital involvement in cherubism that prompted surgical treatment.

Design: Single interventional case report.

Intervention: Findings of the ophthalmic evaluation, computed tomography (CT) scans, intraoperative examination, and light microscopy of the specimens were analyzed.

Main outcome measures: Globe displacement, orbital bony lesions detected on CT scans, histopathology, and postoperative results were assessed.

Results: A 27-year-old female was seen with a slowly progressive superonasal globe displacement and a temporal orbital mass bilaterally of 6 years' duration. She had a history of cherubism, but her cheeks and jaws had a normal appearance instead of the bilateral fullness of the lower half of the face typical of the disease. CT scans demonstrated multicystic bony lesions arising from the orbital floors bilaterally. The masses were excised using an anterior transcutaneous transseptal orbitotomy. Histopathology demonstrated numerous giant cells in a fibrovascular stroma, confirming the clinical diagnosis of cherubism. Postoperative recovery was complete.

Conclusions: Orbital involvement in cherubism may develop beyond puberty, after stabilization or regression of the lesions in the jaws. Patients with cherubism should be routinely evaluated by an ophthalmologist.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Cherubism / complications*
  • Cherubism / diagnostic imaging
  • Cherubism / pathology
  • Cherubism / surgery
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Orbital Diseases / diagnostic imaging
  • Orbital Diseases / etiology*
  • Orbital Diseases / pathology
  • Orbital Diseases / surgery
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed