Determination of systemic and local causes of orbital proptosis diagnosed by neuroradiological modalities

Abstract

Purpose: To determine the demographic and etiological characteristics in patients with orbital proptosis diagnosed by neuroimaging studies. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively analyzed neuroradiological images taken in the obtained during 11-years period (between January, 2009 and July, 2020) by extracting from in the hospital information system. Record system were analyzed retrospectively. An exophthalmometer was performed on the orbital images. The patients diagnosed as orbital proptosis with available clinical and histological data were included in the study. Results: The study included 167 patients (including 30 pediatric patients). It was found that the most common cause of orbital proptosis was inflammatory diseases of orbit, namely orbital cellulitis in children and thyroid orbitopathy in adults; followed by the primary benign tumors of orbit. Among the malignant tumors, primary orbital tumors were more common in children whereas secondary orbital tumors extending from the systemic or local regions were more common in adults. Bilateral proptosis was found in 43.1% of all cases. It was observed that the numbers of systemic (69 cases, 50.3%) and local diseases causing proptosis (68 cases, 49.6%) were comparable in adults while the local diseases causing proptosis (28 cases, 93.3%) were more common than systemic diseases causing proptosis (2 cases, 6.6%) in children. Conclusion: It was found that there was both local and systemic causes of orbital proptosis including those can threaten vision and life. The knowledge of etiological reasons in this series will assist the clinician in assessment of orbital proptosis detected at presentation in patients living in the same geography, ensuring early diagnosis and treatment.