Metastatic mesothelioma presenting with proptosis.

Abstract

To describe the clinical presentation and histologic findings in a patient with metastatic mesothelioma presenting to the ophthalmologist with nonaxial proptosis. Case report. A 55-year-old man presented with a short history of progressive ocular discomfort and vertical diplopia. Clinical examination identified nonaxial proptosis. Subsequent computed tomography showed a large extraconal mass consistent with a malignant process. Three months earlier the patient had been diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma. Unfortunately, he died 3 months after his ophthalmic presentation. Postmortem examination confirmed metastatic mesothelioma in the orbital roof that was histologically identical to the primary pleural malignancy. Pleural mesothelioma can metastasize to the orbit, causing proptosis.