Orbital carcinoid tumor metastatic from the colon

Acute exophthalmos and ophthalmoplegia of the left eye developed in a 58-year-old woman convalescing from a right hemicolectomy for a carcinoid tumor of the colon. Roentgenograms of the orbit and computed tomograms showed a large posterior left orbital mass. Lateral orbitotomy and biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of metastatic carcinoid tumor. Irradiation with radioactive cobalt (60Co) resulted in early relief of the ocular symptoms. To the best of our knowledge, this is the second documented case of orbital metastatic carcinoid tumor and the first patient with orbital involvement from a primary carcinoid tumor of the colon. Orbital irradiation for metastatic orbital carcinoid tumor has not been previously reported and should be used for symptomatic relief, because long-term survival is possible in patients with metastatic carcinoid tumors.