title: Nodular fasciitis presenting as a rapidly enlarging episcleral mass in a 3-year-old.
abstract: A rapidly enlarging periocular mass in a child obligates the treating physician to rule out a malignancy, especially a rhabdomyosarcoma. A 3-year-old girl presented with a 5-day history of a rapidly growing episcleral mass superonasal to the globe, adjacent to the superior rectus muscle insertion. The lesion was locally excised. A sarcoma could not be excluded on frozen sections. Permanent sections and electron microscopy revealed nodular fasciitis, a benign lesion with a pseudosarcomatous histologic appearance. No recurrence has been noted at 9 months follow-up. Nodular fasciitis is a benign proliferation which should be considered in the differential diagnosis of a rapidly enlarging subconjunctival or orbital mass in a child.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston 77550.
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Holds
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mamalis
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Anderson
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005134:Eye Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D005143:Eyelids / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005208:Fasciitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006801:Humans; D012509:Sarcoma / Q000175:diagnosis; D012590:Sclera / Q000648:ultrastructure; D015422:Scleral Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery