Cervicogenic exophthalmos: Possible etiology and pathogenesis

• 作者: Chi-Ming Wu Hung-En Liao Shang-Wei Hsu Shou-Jen Lan
• 来源期刊: 世界临床病例杂志
• 学科: 医学
• 关键词: EXOPHTHALMOS REFLEX SYMPATHETIC DYSTROPHY Anterior cervical DISCECTOMY and fixation PEEK cage Cervicogenic EXOPHTHALMOS Cervicogenic SPONDYLOSIS Case report
• 年，卷（期）: 2020,（2）
• 页码范围: 318-324
• 页数: 7页
• 分类号: R57

摘要

BACKGROUND Unilateral exophthalmos is often caused by inflammation, neoplasm, infection,metabolic disease, vascular disorder and several other less common conditions.Reflex sympathetic dystrophy related to unilateral exophthalmos has not been reported in the past literature.CASE SUMMARY We describe a 45-year-old female with unilateral exophthalmos caused by reflex sympathetic dystrophy and its unexpected spontaneous disappearance after a standard anterior cervical discectomy and fixation operation with two PEEK interbody cages and a plate. To our surprise, the patient’s left unilateral exophthalmos improved spontaneously in the morning on postoperative day 2-with no relapse, without any further medication, as of seven years. We have named this condition "cervicogenic exophthalmos."CONCLUSION We would inform other clinicians that unilateral exophthalmos was caused not only by inflammation, vascular disorder, infection, neoplasm, or metabolic disease, but also by reflex sympathetic dystrophy related with cervicogenic spondylosis. To the best of our knowledge, ours is the first related case report and use of the term "cervicogenic exophthalmos" after reviewing previous literature.