The role of biopsy in diagnosing patients suspected of idiopathic orbital inflammation.

PURPOSE: To provide a framework when to biopsy patients suspected of idiopathic orbital inflammation (IOI).

MATERIALS AND METHODS: One-hundred seventeen patients were selected with signs of orbital inflammation in whom after history and physical examination, no definite diagnosis was made. In this cohort, the role of biopsy in making a diagnosis was evaluated and compared to a therapeutic trial of corticosteroids.

RESULTS: In 67 of 117 patients, a diagnosis was evident after imaging and laboratory testing. In 50 remaining patients, a decision had to be made to biopsy or administer a therapeutic trial of corticosteroids. Thirty-nine patients underwent biopsy as the next step. Nine patients underwent a therapeutic trial of corticosteroids of which one was subsequently subjected to biopsy. Two patients spontaneously resolved. No patients with a malignancy were inadvertently treated with corticosteroids. One patient experienced a biopsy related complication but did not lose vision.

CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests using a therapeutic trial of corticosteroids only in patients with low suspicion of malignancy with muscular and apical mass localizations, or with optic-nerve compression. This framework was demonstrated to be safe in not delaying diagnosis of malignancies and efficient in providing a rapid diagnosis.