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Orbital Plasmacytoma Mimicking an Orbital Abscess
David J Russell1, Stuart R Seiff
1*Department of Ophthalmology, California Pacific Medical Center, and †Department of Ophthalmology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, U.S.A.
Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
|April 6, 2016
Summary
This study reports the first case of a plasmacytoma, a plasma cell neoplasm, presenting as an orbital abscess in an elderly male with a history of multiple myeloma. This rare presentation highlights the importance of considering plasmacytoma in orbital abscess differential diagnoses.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Oncology
- Pathology
Background:
- Multiple myeloma can manifest with extramedullary disease.
- Orbital abscesses typically result from bacterial infections.
Observation:
- An 83-year-old male with multiple myeloma developed an acute orbital abscess.
- Intraoperative biopsies revealed CD-138 positive plasma cell neoplasia consistent with plasmacytoma.
Findings:
- Histopathology confirmed plasmacytoma as the cause of the orbital abscess.
- Cultures identified coagulase-negative Staphylococcus aureus, a common skin bacterium.
Implications:
- This case represents the first documented instance of plasmacytoma presenting as an orbital abscess.
- Clinicians should consider plasmacytoma in the differential diagnosis of orbital abscesses, especially in patients with a history of plasma cell neoplasms.
