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Orbital apex syndrome affecting head and neck cancer patients: A case series
A-C Prado-Ribeiro1, A-C Luiz, M-A Montezuma
1Instituto do Câncer do Estado de São Paulo, Avenida Doutor Arnaldo, 251, Segundo Andar - Sala 75, São Paulo - SP, Brasil, carol_pr@yahoo.com.br.
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.
Material And 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.