Orbital pseudotumors: Preliminary report on a new type of therapy

Abstract

Preliminary results indicate that chlorambucil is effective in the therapy of idiopathic orbital pseudotumors. Chlorambucil was used in six adult patients because the disease was difficult to control with steroids: there were complications due to steroid therapy, or steroids were contraindicated. All patients responded promptly and well. The clinical, computer tomographic (CT) and therapeutic findings in a group of nine patients with idiopathic orbital pseudotumor, six of whom underwent chlorambucil therapy. are reviewed. When the clinical findings are typical (consisting of proptosis, diplopia. pain. and there are no systemic symptoms) and CT shows infiltration around the back of the globe. a diagnosis of orbital pseudotumor can be made with fairly good certainty. Of interest is the fact that even though the disease appears to be unilateral, there frequently is bilateral decrease in lacrimal secretion. This may indicate that orbital pseudotumor is actually a systemic disease.