Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study is to review our 7 years experience with orbitotomy and evaluate outcomes.

Material and Methods: The medical records of 35 patients who underwent orbitotomy between January 2006 and January 2013 were retrospectively evaluated. Patients' age, gender, preoperative and postoperative visual acuities, location and extent of the lesions, and histopathological diagnoses were recorded. The surgical technique, treatments (preorbitotomy/postorbitotomy), and surgery-related complications were noted. Examination findings of patients with risk of systemic metastases were noted.

Results: Seventeen male and 18 female patients were included in our study. Mean age was 41.51±2,49 years (range: 3-79 years). The mean duration of follow-up was 4.6 years (range 6 months -7 years). In our study, the largest group of orbital masses was formed by orbital lymphomas (22.8%). The second and third most frequent lesion groups were cystic lesions of the orbit (14.2%) and vascular lesions of the orbit (14.2%) respectively. Malignant masses were the most frequent indication of orbitotomy. Twenty one patients underwent anterior orbitotomy, whereas 14 patients underwent lateral orbitotomy. Transnasal or transfrontal approach was not used for any patients. None of the patients developed visual loss due to the operation.

Conclusion: Orbitotomy is a difficult surgical procedure used for diagnosis and treatment of the orbital masses. We mostly performed orbitotomies to diagnose and treat benign and malignant orbital masses. This may be explained by the fact that our hospital is an oncology hospital. 

Key Words: Orbitotomy; Orbital Tumor; Orbital Mass.