title: Orbital and sinus inflammation with secondary optic neuropathy.
abstract: Optic neuropathy with simultaneous orbital and sinus inflammation is a diagnostic dilemma. Although sinus inflammation was described previously as causative in some cases of optic neuritis, the relatively high rate of asymptomatic sinus opacification in radiologic studies of the general population (as high as 13%) makes this a diagnosis of exclusion. We describe a patient who had optic neuropathy associated with simultaneous orbital and sinus inflammation. Although definitive determination of etiology may not be made without tissue biopsy, cases suspected of having a bacterial etiology may benefit from an initial 48-hour trial of intravenous antibiotics before initiation of systemic corticosteroids.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, University of Illinois, Chicago School of Medicine.
authors.forename: H S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Chawla
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Goodwin
authors.forename: B H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Ticho
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Feist
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D009901:Optic Nerve Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D009916:Orbital Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy; D012852:Sinusitis / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014792:Visual Acuity; D014794:Visual Fields
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents