Unilateral Blepharoptosis from Renal Cell Carcinoma.
Blepharoptosis is the drooping or inferior displacement of the upper eyelid. Blepharoptosis can be either congenital or acquired. Tumour metastasis is one of the acquired causes of blepharoptosis. The lungs, locoregional lymph nodes, bone and liver are the usual sites of metastases of renal cell carcinoma (RCC); however, unusual locations of RCC have also been reported. Herein, we describe a case of a 47-year-old man with unilateral ptosis and blurred vision due to metastatic RCC. We describe the different causes of blepharopstosis, the path that led to the diagnosis, and how RCC can metastasize to unusual anatomical regions such as the orbit. Symptoms such as exophthalmos, lid edema, diplopia, ptosis, cranial nerve paralysis or blurred vision may mime a benign disease; however, they could also be the symptoms of a systemic malignancy.
Unit of Diagnostic Imaging and Unit of Otolaryngology, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Rome, Italy; Eye Unit, Ashford & St Peter's Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, UK.
Federico
F
Greco
Unit of Diagnostic Imaging and Unit of Otolaryngology, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Rome, Italy; Eye Unit, Ashford & St Peter's Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, UK.
Lorenzo
L
Sabatino
Unit of Diagnostic Imaging and Unit of Otolaryngology, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Rome, Italy; Eye Unit, Ashford & St Peter's Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, UK.
Francesco
F
Sabatino
Unit of Diagnostic Imaging and Unit of Otolaryngology, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Rome, Italy; Eye Unit, Ashford & St Peter's Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, UK.
Manuele
M
Casale
Unit of Diagnostic Imaging and Unit of Otolaryngology, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Rome, Italy; Eye Unit, Ashford & St Peter's Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, UK.
Carlo Cosimo
CC
Quattrocchi
Unit of Diagnostic Imaging and Unit of Otolaryngology, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Rome, Italy; Eye Unit, Ashford & St Peter's Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, UK.
Bruno Beomonte
BB
Zobel
blepharoptosis; kidney cancer; orbital MRI; ptosis; renal cell carcinoma