Orbital metastasis as presenting symptom from a prostatic adenocarcinoma

To report a 72-year-old man with orbital metastasis as presenting symptoms from a prostatic adenocarcinoma.

A complete ophthalmological evaluation with ultrasonography examination, kinetic perimetry, fluorescein angiography, and visually evoked potentials were performed. The patient underwent computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging of the orbit, and blood test for confirmation of the diagnosis. Bone infiltration rate of the cancer was evaluated with bone scintigraphy. Type of the tumor was assessed with orbital incision biopsy and histological analysis. The patient received systemic chemotherapy. Due to poor patient compliance, radiotherapy was not performed.

Ultrasonography showed a hypoechoic retrobulbar lesion. At computed tomography examination of the orbit an expansive oval intraconical solid lesion with enhancement after medium contrast was found. Biopsy findings revealed a moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma with immunohistochemical profile supporting prostate as the primary tumor site: negative for cytokeratin-7 and cytokeratin-20 and positive for prostate-specific antigen, prostate-specific acid phosphatase, and alpha-methylacyl-CoA-racemase.

Ocular signs and symptoms as first clinical presentation of a prostate cancer are relatively rare. Despite its very poor prognosis, a correct management and therapy can improve visual acuity, ocular symptoms, and median survival of cancer patients.