Orbital Pheochromocytoma Metastasis in 2 Patients With Known Pheochromocytoma

Orbital Pheochromocytoma Metastasis in 2 Patients With Known Pheochromocytoma: Two patients with previously diagnosed pheochromocytoma presented with facial pain and ptosis. Imaging revealed orbital lesions. Both patients were referred for surgical evaluation of the orbital mass. Surgical excision was performed for both. Pathology confirmed metastatic pheochromocytoma. Pheochromocytomas commonly metastasize to bone, liver, and other tissues. Five cases of metastasis to orbital bone have been previously described. These 2 cases are unique in that the metastases were not hormonally active, presented soon after initial diagnosis, and were treated palliatively with surgical excision. Previous treatment of orbital bony metastasis used radiotherapy. These cases demonstrate that surgical resection is a viable treatment option in these situations. Orbital metastasis of pheochromocytomas should be considered with the appropriate clinical presentation. These are the first documented cases of intraorbital metastasis, separate from the bony walls. Previously, orbital bony wall metastases were treated with radiation. Surgical excision is a viable option for treatment of such metastases.

Accepted for publication July 29, 2019.

The authors have no financial or conflicts of interest to disclose.

Address correspondence and reprint requests to Stephen C. Dryden, M.D., Hamilton Eye Institute, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, College of Medicine, Department of Ophthalmology 930 Madison Ave. Suite 470, Memphis, TN 38163. E-mail: sdryden1@uthsc.edu

© 2019 by The American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Inc., All rights reserved.