title: Extranodal natural killer/T-cell lymphoma, nasal type, of the orbit mimicking recurrent orbital cellulitis.
abstract: Extranodal natural killer (NK)/T-cell lymphoma, nasal type, is a rare type of lymphoma that is endemic to East Asia and parts of Central and South America. Most patients present with nasal obstruction, sinusitis, ulcer, and epistaxis due to a destructive mass involving the midline facial tissues. The patient visited our clinic approximately 1 year ago; she had right-sided orbital swelling and pain. The patient was sent to the department of ear, nose, and throat (ENT), and computed tomographic scan was performed. Computed tomographic imaging showed a soft tissue density in the right frontal, maxillary, and ethmoidal sinus and demonstrated fungal sinusitis in the right maxillary sinus. Then, she underwent the operation at ENT; her symptoms seemed to have disappeared. After 6 months, however, she had visited our clinic again because of a left-sided orbital cellulitis that seemed to be similar to the previous right-sided symptoms 1 year ago. She received treatments immediately and the operation again at ENT. In addition, a biopsy of left ethmoid sinus tissue was performed. The biopsy result revealed "chronic inflammation." However, unfortunately, the patient had a relapse of almost the same symptoms in a month. An excisional biopsy was performed for histopathologic diagnosis again. The left ethmoid sinus biopsy results were consistent with extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma, nasal type. The patient then transferred her care to the department of internal medicine for chemotherapy. The authors demonstrate how the progressive-staging extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma can present in a similar fashion as a recurrent orbital cellulitis.
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Ophthalmology, Ulsan University Hospital, Ulsan University College of Medicine, Ulsan, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Ji Wan
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jae Hwan
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: An
mesh_terms: D001706:Biopsy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D054391:Lymphoma, Extranodal NK-T-Cell / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009181:Mycoses / Q000175:diagnosis; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000175:diagnosis; D054517:Orbital Cellulitis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D010254:Paranasal Sinus Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D010255:Paranasal Sinus Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012852:Sinusitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods