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Yoon, Moon, and Chi: Unilateral Ptosis Due to Isolated Levator Myositis
Case Report
Journal of the Korean Ophthalmological Society

Journal of the Korean Ophthalmological Society 2012; 53(5): 707-711.

Published online: 16 May 2012

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3341/jkos.2012.53.5.707

Unilateral Ptosis Due to Isolated Levator Myositis

Je Hwan Yoon, MD1, Hyun Seung Moon, MD2, Mijung Chi, MD, PhD1

1Department of Ophthalmology, Gachon University Gil Hospital, Incheon, Korea.

2Bright World Eye Center, Seoul, Korea.

Address reprint requests to Mijung Chi, MD, PhD. Department of Ophthalmology, Gachon University Gil Hospital, #21 Namdong-daero 774beon-gil, Namdong-gu, Incheon 405-760, Korea. Tel: 82-32-460-3751, Fax: 82-32-460-3358, cmj@gilhospital.com

Received 12 August 2011       Accepted 7 April 2012

Copyright © 2012 The Korean Ophthalmological Society

Abstract

Purpose

To present a rare case of idiopathic orbital myositis involving levator palpebrae superioris.

Case summary

A 27-year-old male presented with a 1-week history of redness, discomfort, swelling, and drooping of his left upper eyelid. A computed tomography scan showed isolated enlargement of the right superior rectus/levator muscle complex. On examination, there was a left blepharoptosis, although eye movements were normal. The authors treated the patient with 3rd-generation cephalosporin; however, after 3 days, the symptoms did not improve. Subsequently, the patient was diagnosed with idiopathic orbital myositis and treated with oral corticosteroids for 1 month; the symptoms gradually resolved.

Conclusions

Idiopathic orbital myositis is a subtype of nonspecific orbital inflammation primarily involving the extraocular muscles. Although the exact cause of orbital myositis is unknown, an immune-mediated pathophysiologic mechanism appears to be one of the causes. Medial rectus myositis is the most common, and isolated levator muscle myositis is very rare. The authors of the present study reported a case of orbital myositis involving the levator palpebrae superioris which should be considered a differential diagnosis of blepharoptosis with eyelid swelling.

Keywords: Corticosteroid, Levator muscle, Orbital myositis

Figures and Tables

Figure 1
At first day, the patient shows left upper eyelid ptosis and normal movement of eyes.
jkos-53-707-g001
Figure 2
Coronal and sagittal computed tomographic scans show enlargement of the left superior rectus/levator muscle complex.
jkos-53-707-g002
Figure 3
One month later, the patient shows improvement of left upper blepharoptosis.
jkos-53-707-g003

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