title: Epithelioid sarcoma of the orbit.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Epithelioid sarcoma is a rare and aggressive malignancy commonly occurring in the tendon sheaths of the distal extremities of young adults. This article presents the clinical and pathologic details of two patients with epithelioid sarcoma in the orbit, the first to be reported as occurring in this location.
  
  
  METHODS
  The clinical history, results of physical and radiologic examination, surgical procedures, pathologic specimens, and clinical course of each patient were reviewed and recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Biopsies were performed of the masses that were found in the superotemporal orbit of both patients. Results of pathologic examination in each patient caused considerable difficulty, and the correct diagnosis was reached only after extensive consultation. The first patient underwent wide soft tissue and bone exenteration and is alive without recurrence at 3 years. The second patient had multiple recurrences and died of recurrent and metastatic disease at 29 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Epithelioid sarcoma must be added to the differential diagnosis of orbital sarcomas. The histology is nodular with a pseudogranulomatous appearance. Based on our limited experience, epithelioid sarcoma of the orbit may have a course similar to that which occurs elsewhere in the body, requiring aggressive surgical treatment at the outset.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Vancouver General Hospital, British Columbia, Canada.
authors.forename: V A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: White
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Heathcote
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Hurwitz
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Freeman
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rootman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D009915:Orbit / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D009918:Orbital Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D012509:Sarcoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor