Idiopathic orbital inflammation = benign (nonneoplastic), noninfective inflammatory condition without identifiable, local or systemic causes.
Initial patient evaluated is directed to exclude infection, trauma, thyroid orbitopathy, sarcoidosis, Wegener's granulomatosis, other autoimmune diseases, neoplasm and other causes. If a complete diagnostic workup has been unable to identify a cause, then initiate therapy for presumed idiopathic orbital inflammation.
Initial therapy for mild disease: nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents (NSAIDS) to help control pain.
Initial therapy for moderate or severe disease: high dose oral corticosteroids
Dose: prednisone 1.0 - 1.5 mg per kg per day
Duration: 1-2 weeks with taper over the next 5-8 weeks.
Retreatment if condition relapses on tapering steroids or recurs:
Dose: prednisone 1.5 mg per kg per day or higher
Duration: 1-2 weeks with taper over the next 8-10 weeks (slower taper)
Biopsy is performed if:
(1) the disease course is atypical
(2) disease is refractory to systemic steroids or rebounds during steroid taper
Radiation therapy is used if the patient:
(1) does not respond to systemic steroid therapy or
(2) is intolerant to steroid therapy
Dose of radiation: 15-20 Gy fractioned over 10 days
If the patient is refractory to systemic steroids and radiation, then:
(1) reconsider diagnosis and look for other causes
(2) consider chemotherapy
(3) consider surgical debulking if focus can be easily resected or if disease progressive
|
Clinical Outcome
|
Interpretation
|
|
complete relief of symptoms
|
therapeutic success
|
|
partial or no relief of symptoms
|
therapeutic failure
|
