Tumors of the Orbit

Orbital tumors can be benign or malignant and arise primarily within the orbit or secondarily from an adjacent source, such as the eyelid, paranasal sinus, or intracranial compartment. Some orbital tumors usually cause proptosis and displacement of the globe in a direction opposite the tumor. Pain, diplopia, and vision loss may also be present. Diagnosis, in most cases, is based on the history, examination, and neuroimaging (CT, MRI, or both). Causes and treatment vary by age group. Children: Benign pediatric tumors are most commonly dermoid tumors and vascular lesions such as capillary hemangioma and lymphangioma. Treatment of dermoid tumors is excision. Capillary hemangiomas tend to spontaneously involute and therefore usually do not need any treatment; however, especially when located on the upper eyelid, they may affect vision and require treatment with intralesional injection of corticosteroids or, in exceptional cases, surgical debulking. In recent cases, involution has followed therapy with systemic beta blockers. Malignant pediatric tumors are most commonly rhabdomyosarcoma and metastatic lesions related to leukemia or neuroblastoma. If rhabdomyosarcoma is resectable, surgery is done, followed by chemotherapy and orbital radiation therapy. Leukemic disease is usually managed by orbital radiation therapy, chemotherapy, or both. Adults: Benign adult tumors are most commonly meningiomas, mucoceles, and cavernous hemangiomas. When symptomatic, sphenoid wing meningiomas are treated with debulking via craniotomy, sometimes followed by a course of radiation therapy. Because meningioma cells infiltrate bone of the skull base, complete resection usually is not possible. Mucoceles are treated by draining them into the nose because they most commonly arise from the ethmoid or frontal sinus. Cavernous hemangiomas are excised. Malignant adult tumors are most commonly lymphoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and metastatic disease. Lymphomas involving the orbit are typically B-cell and characteristically low grade. Lymphomas can be bilateral and simultaneous and can be part of a systemic process or exist in the orbit in isolation. Radiation therapy effectively treats orbital lymphomas with few adverse effects, although the addition of monoclonal antibodies against a surface receptor (CD20) on the lymphocyte is also effective. Most squamous cell carcinomas arise from the adjacent paranasal sinuses. Surgery, radiation therapy, or both form the backbone of therapy. Metastatic disease is usually treated with radiation therapy. Metastatic disease involving the orbit is usually an unfavorable prognostic sign; carcinoid tumors are a notable exception.