Tumor pathology of the orbit

Abstract

The term orbital tumor covers a wide range of benign and malignant diseases affecting specific component of the orbit or developing in contact with them. They are found incidentally or may be investigated as part of the assessment of a systemic disorder or because of orbital signs (exophthalmos, pain, etc.). Computed tomography, MRI and Color Doppler Ultrasound (CDU), play a varying role depending on the clinical presentation and the disease being investigated. This article reflects long experience in a reference center but does not claim to be exhaustive. We have chosen to consider these tumors from the perspective of their usual presentation, emphasizing the most common causes and suggestive radiological and clinical presentations (progressive or sudden-onset exophthalmos, children or adults, lacrimal gland lesions, periorbital lesions and enophthalmos). We will describe in particular muscle involvement (thyrotoxicosis and tumors), vascular lesions (cavernous sinus hemangioma, orbital varix, cystic lymphangioma), childhood lesions and orbital hematomas. We offer straightforward useful protocols for simple investigation and differential diagnosis. Readers who wish to go further to extend their knowledge in this fascinating area can refer to the references in the bibliography.

Orbital tumours and tumour-like lesions: exploring the armamentarium of multiparametric imaging

“…Surgical resection is performed to correct visual disturbance and cosmetic problems. Visual prognosis is excellent in most cases [ 1 , 2 , 45 , 46 ].…”

“…Imaging differentials include venous varix and, less often, schwannoma. A venous varix shows intermittent intralesional flow and exophthalmos on Valsalva manoeuvre [ 1 , 2 , 45 , 46 ]. Schwannomas also appear well-circumscribed, iso-hypointense on T1W images, and hyperintense on T2W images.…”

“…Radical resection with wide margins is performed for small, low-grade tumours. Survival rates vary from 5 years in 40 % of patients to 15 years in 58 % of patients [ 1 , 2 , 53 , 54 ]. Histologically, these tumours are characterized by absence of a mesenchymal matrix.…”

Optimized imaging of the midface and orbits

“…16) ), CT is mainly used for orbital imaging in the acute trauma setting. Due to the superior soft tissue contrast, MRI has replaced CT in tumor patients [ 76 ], [ 77 ]. This also applies to the diagnosis of retinoblastoma [ 78 ].…”

Orbital hemangiomas: capabilities of modern neuroradiological diagnostics

“…ВОПРОСЫ НЕЙРОХИРУРГИИ 4, 2018 ствуют уточнению диагноза за счет возможной оценки гемодинамики образования и его гистологической принадлежности, но и помогают в предоперационном планировании [25][26][27][28][29][30].…”