title: [Acute and chronic orbital myositis].
abstract: Ocular muscle diseases fall into two distinct groups: acute or subacute exophthalmic myositis and chronic oligosymptomatic myositis. The diagnosis can only be established with certainty by means of B-scan sonography and CT scanning; these examinations demonstrate the irregular thickening of one or several eye muscles. The disease is apparently primitive; in some cases concomitant autoimmune factors may be found. The course is spontaneous, with continual recurrence, and may have sequelae in the form of a definitive exophthalmos or an acquired retraction syndrome. It responds remarkably well to corticotherapy and, if necessary, immunosuppressors; in general, these lead to rapid and - if treatment is started in time - total regression of the disease.
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005094:Exophthalmos / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009220:Myositis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D009801:Oculomotor Muscles; D009918:Orbital Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D011241:Prednisone / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D011241:Prednisone
vernacular_title: Les myosites orbitaires aiguës et chroniques.