title: Periorbital nodular fasciitis arising during pregnancy.
abstract: Nodular fasciitis (NF) is a benign proliferation of fibroblasts and myofibroblasts that rarely occurs in the periorbital region. We report what we believe to be the first case of periorbital NF associated with pregnancy. A case of intravascular fasciitis, a NF variant, has been reported during pregnancy, but it was not located in the periorbital region. A weak presence of estrogen receptors has been reported in NF. This may make it more susceptible to the hormone-related changes during pregnancy and contribute to the development of the lesion by stimulating fibroblasts and smooth muscle cell types. Although rare, NF should be considered in the differential diagnosis of periorbital soft-tissue masses arising during pregnancy.
authors.affiliation: Ophthalmology Service, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington DC, USA.
authors.forename: Brandon N
authors.initials: BN
authors.lastname: Phillips
authors.forename: Andrew S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Eiseman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001706:Biopsy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005208:Fasciitis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009916:Orbital Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed