Multiple myeloma presenting as bilateral orbital proptosis

• Main Authors: Malik Archana, Narang Subina, Handa Uma, Sood Sunandan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2009-01-01
• Series: Indian Journal of Ophthalmology
• Subjects: Bilateral proptosis; multiple myeloma; plasma cell dyscrasias.
• Online Access: http://www.ijo.in/article.asp?issn=0301-4738;year=2009;volume=57;issue=5;spage=393;epage=395;aulast=Malik

A 58-year-old-man presented with painful rapidly progressive bilateral proptosis with restricted ocular movements of 15 days duration. There was history of significant weight loss in the recent past. Computed tomography scan of the head and orbit revealed bilateral multiple, well-defined, round, soft tissue masses, isointense with muscles in intraconal and extraconal space. Fine needle aspiration cytology and incision biopsy from the lesion, urine for Bence-Jones proteins and immunofixation clinched the diagnosis of multiple myeloma. Skeletal survey did not reveal any bony involvement. The diagnosis of multiple myeloma should be kept in mind in cases of bilateral proptosis. Bony involvement is not universal in cases of orbital myeloma. Early diagnosis can be established with extensive biochemical and histopathological investigations and timely treatment is life saving for these patients.