[Intraorbital cavernous hemangiomas: symptoms, diagnostics and surgical approaches]

Abstract

Background: Cavernous hemangiomas are the most common benign neoplasms of the orbit. Options for surgical therapy are transnasal, transcranial, transantral and ophthalmological approaches. In this study we present consecutively treated hemangiomas that were resected via ophthalmological approaches in our clinic between the years 2005 and 2010.

Method: A retrospective analysis of all patients with orbital cavernous hemangiomas of the Eye Department of Charité Campus Virchow Klinikum from 2005 to 2010. We present the surgical approach, pre- and postoperative visual acuity, eye motility, globe position and operative complications.

Results: From 5 / 2005 to 5 / 2010 10 histologically confirmed intraorbital hemangiomas were resected in our department.7 hemangiomas were intraconal, 3 tumours were extraconal. 4 tumours were resected via a lateral orbitotomy, and in 6 patients tumour removal was carried out via a swinging eyelid approach. In all patients, visual acuity, visual field and motility remained unchanged pre- and postoperatively. Preoperative exophthalmos resolved completely after surgery.

Conclusion: The swinging eyelid and lateral orbitotomy techniques are appropriate surgical approaches for resection of orbital cavernous hemangiomas. The resection via these approaches can be considered as a low-risk procedure.