Orbital Tuberculosis

A 37-year-old man had epistaxis, headache, intermittent swelling of the periorbital region, proptosis, epiphora, and chronic sinusitis. X-ray films showed marked erosion of the midline facial bones, total opacification of both maxillary sinuses, and clouding of the sphenoid and left ethmoid sinuses. He also had a cutaneous-maxillary sinus fistula and a purulent discharge. A histopathologic examination disclosed areas of acute and chronic inflammation with occasional noncaseating granulomas. Biopsy specimens and postoperative sputum cultures grew Mycobacterium tuberculosis, although the patient had no obvious signs of systemic disease. Because tuberculosis of the orbit is rare in developed countries, it is often overlooked in the diagnosis of granulomatous inflammation of the orbit. This can lead to exacerbation of the disease by corticosteroid treatment.