Bilateral non-specific orbital inflammation (orbital “pseudotumour”), posterior scleritis, and anterior uveitis associated with hypothyroidism in a child
- Department of Ophthalmology, Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge, UK
- Correspondence to: Jimmy Uddin, Department of Ophthalmology, Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 2QQ, UK; jmuddin{at}aol.com
- Accepted 27 February 2002
Posterior scleritis and non-specific orbital inflammation (NSOI), also known as orbital “pseudotumour,” are rarely seen in children.1–3 Paediatric posterior scleritis and NSOI seldom have an underlying systemic association and, to our knowledge, hypothyroidism has not been reported as an association,1,4 although thyroid abnormalities are recognised in adults.
We present a case of a child with bilateral anterior NSOI, posterior scleritis, and anterior uveitis who was also found to be hypothyroid.
Case report
A previously fit and well 13 year old girl presented with a 3 week history of bilateral red eyes and painless puffy left upper and lower lids for 1 week. She had had a headache for 10 days which had failed to respond to oral antibiotics. Systemic inquiry revealed a sore throat for 10 days but no other symptoms, in particular no thyroid related symptoms. Her visual acuity was 6/9 right, and 6/18 unaided, improving to 6/12 with pinhole in the left eye. She read all the Ishihara plates with the right eye, but missed three out of 17 plates …
