title: Evolution of an orbital apex tumor over a decade.
abstract: We report the evolution of an orbital apex tumor that underwent spontaneous regression, followed several years later by rapid growth and loss of vision. A turkey farmer had a right apical lesion, initially thought to be an optic nerve meningioma. The mass spontaneously regressed over 2 years, with marked improvement of vision. Eight years later, the patient presented with loss of light perception and severe proptosis of the right eye from a massive orbital tumor that extended in the cavernous sinus. An eyelid-sparing orbital exenteration was performed. The pathologic diagnosis was diffuse large cell lymphoma. This case demonstrates that non-Hodgkin lymphoma of the orbital apex may resolve spontaneously or it may enlarge rapidly, degenerating into more aggressive forms.
authors.affiliation: Mayo Clinic, 4500 San Pablo Road, Jacksonville, FL 32224, USA.
authors.forename: Seyda
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ugurlu
authors.forename: George B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Bartley
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D016403:Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / Q000473:pathology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009365:Neoplasm Regression, Spontaneous / Q000473:pathology*; D009918:Orbital Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D014792:Visual Acuity