title: Orbital apex syndrome affecting head and neck cancer patients: A case series.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Orbital apex syndrome (OAS) is a complex and uncommon disorder that typically damages multiple cranial nerves in association with optic nerve dysfunction. OAS is associated with several different pathologies, however; only a few cases have been reported in association with head and neck cancer (HNC) so far.
  
  
  METHODS
  A case series of HNC patients diagnosed with OAS is described including clinicopathological data, image findings, and disease outcome.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ptosis and diplopia were diagnosed in four male patients with mean age of 61.2 years who were undergoing treatment for late-stage carcinomas of the tongue, larynx, and nasopharynx, eventually leading to the diagnosis of OAS. The mean overall survival rate after the diagnosis of OAS was 9.5 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The current study reinforces evidence that OAS indicates poor prognosis and highlights the importance of early diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Instituto do Câncer do Estado de São Paulo, Avenida Doutor Arnaldo, 251, Segundo Andar - Sala 75, São Paulo - SP, Brasil, carol_pr@yahoo.com.br.
authors.forename: A-C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Prado-Ribeiro
authors.forename: A-C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Luiz
authors.forename: M-A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Montezuma
authors.forename: M-P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Mak
authors.forename: A-R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Santos-Silva
authors.forename: T-B
authors.initials: TB
authors.lastname: Brandão
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003389:Cranial Nerve Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009901:Optic Nerve Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013577:Syndrome