Grade III Ptosis Revealing Congenital Orbital Encephalocele

Abstract

This article aims to provide an overview of the clinical, diagnostic, therapeutic and prognostic aspects of orbital encephalocele. A patient with age of 48, operated on for thyroid goitre and treated for acute lymphocytic leukemia for 5 years, presented for one month with rapidly worsening ptosis of the right eye, with limited elevation and no other ophthalmoplegia or associated signs, A cranio-orbital MRI was ordered, revealing an intraorbital encephalocele exerting a mass effect on the upper eyelid levator muscle and the homolateral upper rectus. Orbital encephalocele usually occurs due to a failure in neural tube closure during embryonic development. This malformation manifests itself as a herniation of cerebral structures through a bony opening in the base of the skull. Encephaloceles can vary in type, with different contents, including the cerebral cortex or meningeal structures. Long- term follow-up is crucial to assess neurological development and quality of life. Ongoing research in this field is essential to improve clinical outcomes and develop more effective treatment strategies.