What is the diagnostic consequence of clinical collateral edema?

Introduction Collateral edema is a conveyed swelling of the upper and/or lower eyelid. It usually indicates a so-called orbital complication. The degree of orbital complications is classified according to Chandler (1970) degrees 1-5. Depending on the degree, an immediate or delayed surgical intervention is required.

Methods Within the scope of a quality assurance analysis, the clinical course of 26 patients with collateral edema was investigated. Taking into account the radiologic images and the clinical appearance of a collateral edema, it was examined to which extend the appearance pattern of a collateral edema (upper or lower eyelid only, upper and lower eyelid swelling, with or without redness, with or without protrusio bulbi, with or without visual impairment) is related to the pathogenesis and whether it can conclude to a Chandler grading.

Results The comparison of the clinical appearance in the upper and lower eyelid area did not correlate with the radiologically diagnosed pathogenesis. Therefore, the severity of an upper or lower eyelid edema has to be determined by other additional factors, independent of the pathogenesis.

Conclusion Collateral edema indicates an orbital complication and has to be further clarified radiologically by means of layer imaging according to the Chandler classification (1970) for the determination of its surgical urgency.

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Publication History

Article published online:
10 June 2020