Orbital Apex Syndrome and Pituitary Metastasis in Lung Carcinoma: A Case Report

Abstract

Orbital Apex Syndrome (OAS) is a spectrum of Orbital Apex Disorder (OAD) in which progressive vision loss occurs due to the involvement of oculomotor nerve at the orbital apex, resulting in optic neuropathy and ophthalmoplegia. Generally patients represents with the associated symptoms related to the structures involved, specifically the orbital fissure, orbital appex or cavernous sinus, collectively known as OAD. The present study reports a case of in 38-year-old female patient, detected to have carcinoma bronchus on further evaluation. The patient presented with bilateral progressive blurring of vision, diplopia, and headache. The Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) brain and orbits revealed thickening of the intracanalicular portion of the right optic nerve, thickening of the intracranial portion of bilateral bilateral optic nerves, a soft tissue intensity lesion at the planum sphenoidale, pituitary gland with out a bright spot, nodular thickening of infundibulum, and thickening of the bilateral cavernous sinus showing near homogeneous postcontrast enhancement. A Chest X-ray (CXR) followed by High Resolution Computed Tomography (HRCT) thorax confirmed a soft tissue density mass lesion with spiculated margins in the posterior segment of the right upper lobe, along with an abrupt termination of the posterior segmental bronchus. Fibreoptic bronchoscopy revealed narrowing of the right upper lobe segmental bronchus. Bronchial lavage fluid revealed features of adenocarcinoma. A whole-body Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scan performed elsewhere showed a welldefined hypermetabolic, heterogeneously enhancing soft tissue in the posterior segment of the right upper lobe and at the right orbital apex. Tissue diagnosis could not be confirmed as the patient’s health deteriorated. The MRI brain and orbits with contrast is the most important modality in evaluating OAD. The OAS is rarely reported as the first symptom of an occult lung carcinoma.

Keywords

• adenocarcinoma
• carcinoma bronchus
• cavernous sinus
• oculomotor nerves
• ophthalmoplegia