Periorbital vs Orbital Cellulitis

Background

• Orbital Cellulitis may mimic Periorbital Cellulitis early in its course
• Orbital cellullitis
  • Most often due to ethmoid sinusitis
  • May also be due to orbital trauma, endophthalmitis, infection from teeth / middle ear
  • Not caused by extension of preriorbital cellulitis
• Periorbital cellulitis
  • Most often due to contiguous infection of soft tissues of face and eyelids

DDX

1. Periorbital Cellulitis
2. Orbital Cellulitis
3. Subperiosteal abscess
4. Orbital abscess
5. Cavernous sinus thrombosis
6. Dacryoadenitis
7. Dacryocystitis
8. Hordeolum
9. Bacterial and viral conjunctivitis
10. Contact dermatitis
11. Herpes zoster
12. Herpes simplex

See Also

• Orbital Cellulitis
• Periorbital Cellulitis
• Periorbital Swelling

Source

• UpToDate
• Tintinalli