title: Acute orbital myositis.
abstract: We examined 9 consecutive cases of unilateral orbital myositis (7 women and 2 men; age range 15-46 years) presenting to Casualty. Only 3 were correctly diagnosed on the first visit. Eight patients exhibited globe retraction in the acute stages and, after treatment with systemic steroids, all made a full recovery. None of the patients had associated systemic disease and all remain well over a 6-12 month follow-up period. Orbital myositis may be a more common condition than previously thought; it can present with a variety of clinical signs, and may be difficult to diagnose in the early stages. The presence of globe retraction on movement of a painful, injected eye is a useful diagnostic sign which indicates inflammation of extraocular muscles and is present in the acute stages of the disease; we explain how to elicit globe retraction and suggest a management protocol for these patients.
authors.affiliation: Oxford Eye Hospital, Radcliffe Infirmary, UK.
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Moorman
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Elston
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005133:Eye Movements; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016727:Orbital Pseudotumor / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy; D011379:Prognosis; D013256:Steroids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D013256:Steroids