Silicone oil-associated orbital cellulitis with lipogranulomatous inflammation in the setting of HIV: a management challenge and clinicopathological correlation

Abstract

A 58-year-old Indian man presented with pain and redness of the left eye (OS) for one day. Patient had undergone silicone oil removal in OS for emulsified oil following vitrectomy and oil tamponade six months ago when he was diagnosed with retinal detachment in both eyes due to HIV retinopathy. Retinal detachment in the right eye (OD) was inoperable and had turned prephthisical at presentation, while his vision in OS was finger counting. Intraocular pressure in OD was 8 mm Hg and unrecordably elevated in OS. Extraocular movements were limited by periorbital oedema and proptosis. Slit-lamp examination revealed corneal haze, cells 2+/flare 1+ with pseudophakia, and attached retina. Histopathology showed lipogranulomatous inflammation, hitherto unreported in association with silicone oil. The index case posed a management challenge since his only functional eye had potentially been compromised by glaucoma and orbital cellulitis with compartment syndrome, against the backdrop of an immunocompromised status.