Cryo‐assisted anterior approach for surgery of retro‐ocular orbital tumours

Abstract

Abstract Purpose The aim of this course is to share our experience with transconjunctival or transcutaneous anterior orbitotomy using surgical microscope and cryoextraction approach for surgery of retroocular orbital tumors. Methods Data regarding the used of this anterior surgical approach to retro‐ocular orbital tumors was collected from our case series of 103 patients who, over 16 years, were operated on for retroocular orbital tumors and from a newer case series of 24 patients who, over the last 5 years were operated on for orbital cavernous hemangioma. Results A cryo‐assisted, minimally invasive, anterior approach was employed in most patients. During more than 20 years lateral orbitotomy was needed only in 3 patients. The operations with anterior approach lasted 57.9 + 15.0 minutes. In none there was need for transformation into lateral orbitotomy and there were no intra‐operative complications. No post operative deterioration of visual acuity was evident. Conclusion In contrast to other reports on treatment of orbital lesions, in our experience, surgery of most solid tumors and of many other cystic or infiltrative lesions can be achieved via an anterior, cryo‐assisted approach, and thus with minimal trauma to the orbit. This approach warrants more favorable consideration as it can yield successful results even in cases with large or deeply located tumors. In most cases it obviates the need for extra‐ocular muscle disinsersion and lateral or transcranial orbitotomies with bone flaps.