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International Medical Case Reports Journal 2017:10 255–259
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CASE REPORT
open access to scientific and medical research
Open Access Full Text Article
http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/IMCRJ.S133284
Cavernous hemangioma of the orbit: an unusual
acute presentation
Sophia Louisraj
1
Thendral Ponnudurai
1
Dominic Rodriguez
2
Philip A Thomas
1
Christadoss Arul Nelson
Jesudasan
1
1
Department of Orbit and
Oculoplasty, Joseph Eye Hospital,
2
Department of Medicine, Kauvery
Medical Centre, Tiruchirapalli, India
Abstract: We report an unusual presentation of an orbital cavernous hemangioma in a
26-year-old female, who noted sudden redness and swelling of the left eye (LE) on waking up.
At presentation, upper eyelid edema with periorbital ecchymosis and subconjunctival hemor-
rhage were noted in the LE. Although there was transient symptomatic relief with topical
medications, blurring of vision developed in the LE. When seen 10 days later, the patient’s LE
showed axial proptosis. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed an intraconal soft tissue mass in
the superomedial quadrant of the left orbit. Superior orbitotomy with mass excision was done;
histopathological examination of the excised mass revealed a cavernous hemangioma. The patient
had complete visual recovery following surgery. To our knowledge, an acute presentation of an
orbital cavernous hemangioma with subconjunctival hemorrhage and periorbital ecchymosis
has not previously been reported.
Keywords: subconjunctival hemorrhage, ecchymosis, cavernous hemangioma
Introduction
Cavernous hemangiomas are the most common vascular lesions of the orbit in adults,
being commonly seen in middle age, with a female predilection.
1
Over 80% of orbital
cavernous hemangiomas are located within the intraconal compartment, most com-
monly in the lateral aspect.
2
Progressive painless proptosis is the usual mode of pre-
sentation, and acute presentations are rare.
3
We report an unusual acute presentation
of an orbital cavernous hemangioma with subconjunctival hemorrhage (SCH) and
periorbital ecchymosis.
Case report
Written informed consent has been provided by the patient to have the case details and
any accompanying images published. A 26-year-old female presented with swelling
and redness of the left eye (LE) that she noticed on waking up. She had not sustained
antecedent trauma or undergone Valsalva maneuver and did not provide any other sig-
nificant medical history such as bleeding diatheses or drug intake. On examination, the
best corrected visual acuity in both eyes was 20/20, N5. The right eye examination was
unremarkable. In the LE, there was SCH involving the bulbar temporal conjunctiva,
along with upper eyelid edema and periorbital ecchymosis (Figure 1). The rest of the
anterior segment, and the entire posterior segment, were normal. General and systemic
examination findings were normal. Hematological investigations did not suggest
any bleeding disorder. She was given symptomatic treatment and advised to review
after a week. When she returned 10 days later, the swelling and redness were seen to
Correspondence: Sophia Louisraj
Institute of Ophthalmology, Joseph
Eye Hospital, P.B.138, Tiruchirapalli,
Tamilnadu, India
Tel +91 43 1246 0622
Fax +91 43 1241 4969
Email dsophie1974@yahoo.com