Summary

We report a 22-year-old man who presented with a 3 week history of left-sided headache, orbital pain and epiphora progressing to diplopia. He was being treated by his general practitioner with a β-blocker and simple analgesia for possible diagnosis of cluster headaches. Initial examination revealed a reduction in visual acuity and poor abduction and upward gaze. Routine blood tests were normal. CT imaging was reported as a left ethmoid sinusitis with extension into a left orbit subperiosteal abscess. No pus was obtained on frontal sinus trephine and a biopsy was taken, which proved to be an alveolar-type rhabdomyosarcoma. The patient has completed a full course of chemoradiotherapy and has responded well to the treatment. His vision is back to normal and an MRI has shown complete regression of tumour.