Ethmoidal sinus adenocarcinoma with orbital invasion.

PURPOSE: To report a rare case of massive ethmoidal adenocarcinoma with orbital invasion but minimal ophthalmic symptoms on presentation.

METHODS

Case report of a 69-year-old, otherwise healthy, retired carpenter who was referred for treatment of bilateral senile cataract.

RESULTS

A relative afferent pupillary defect and sectorial disc atrophy on ophthalmic examination led to further investigation and identification of an extensive ethmoidal neoplasm with orbital invasion. An incisional biopsy was performed and histopathologic examination revealed an adenocarcinoma of low-grade malignancy.

CONCLUSION

Ethmoidal adenocarcinomas with orbital involvement may occasionally be relatively asymptomatic and masked by coexisting ocular disease.