A review of orbital tumors in adult Portuguese population

Abstract

PurposeTo determine the types and frequency of orbital tumors from patients referred to the Orbital Department.MethodsRetrospective consecutive case series. All cases of histopathologically or radiologically verified orbital tumors from a major tertiary referral hospital in Lisbon, were reviewed from a 9‐year period. The distribution of patient's age and sex; and tumor's pathology, origin and location in the orbit were determined.ResultsConsecutive series of 71 patients. Median age at tumor's diagnosis was 52y‐o (from 0 to 92 y‐o), and 65% of the patients were females. The most common clinical features at presentation included proptosis in 33 patients (33%), low vision in 24 (34%), a mass in 15 (21%) and pain in 12 (17%). The mean duration of symptoms was 3,3 years (from 1 month to 20 years) before referral. Orbital tumor were malignant in 37 patients (52%) and benign in 34 (48%). The most common tumors were in the extraconal area: malignant lymphoma in 8 patients (11%) and squamous cell carcinoma in 4 (5%); in the intraconal area: meningioma in 9 patients (12%), cavernous hemangioma in 8 (11%), metastases in 7 (10%); and in the lacrimal gland malignant lymphoma 7 (10%) were the most common.ConclusionsA variety of tumors can involve the orbit. In our series 48% were benign and 52% were malignant. Regardless of the location the most common tumors were malignant lymphoma and cavernous hemangioma. Symptoms that are associated with orbital tumors include: proptosis, orbital mass, decreased vision and pain.