RHABDOMYOSARCOMA PRESUMED METASTATIC TO THE ORBIT

Background: Orbital metastasis from rhabdomyosarcoma is a rare disorde r with a poor prognosis for long-term survival. Only one other detaile d account of this disorder has appeared in the ophthalmic literature. Methods: The authors report the clinical features of four patients wit h presumed orbital metastasis from alveolar and embryonal rhabdomyosar coma. Results: The mast common ophthalmic manifestations of orbital me tastasis from rhabdomyosarcoma in these patients included proptosis, r educed visual acuity, orbital pain, and motility disorders, computed t omography documented orbital masses in all of the patients. In those p atients with a primary tumor of the maxillary sinus, there was no evid ence of direct extension into the orbit, Despite combination chemother apy and radiation, all four patients died of their illness within 6 mo nths of orbital metastasis. Conclusions: Although uncommon, rhabdomyos arcoma should be considered in ?he differential diagnosis of metastati c tumors to the orbit in children and adults, Despite the poor prognos is, prompt diagnosis and palliative radiotherapy may improve the quali ty of life for these patients with terminal disease.