Keywords

Incidence of Orbital Tumors

Primary Tumors of Orbit

Although the incidence of different orbital tumors varies considerably among large series, it is plausible to group the orbital space-occupying lesions as 60% benign and 40% malignant pathologies in adults.

The frequency of malignancy is about 20% among young patients within the age range of 1–18 years. The incidence of malignant tumors upsurges with aging chiefly because of the higher prevalence of lymphomas and metastatic tumors [1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9].

Another approach to classification is to divide the orbital tumors as cystic or partially cystic, versus solid lesions; in adults this ratio is about 30% and 70% respectively. The percentage of cystic lesions is higher in younger age groups primarily because of the common occurrence of dermoid and other congenital hamartomas (vascular and others) and rarely as a result of cystic degeneration within some solid tumors such as meningioma and schwannoma in children [10–11].

The most common diagnoses in all age groups are vascular hamartomatous lesions [infantile hemangioma, cavernous malformations, and venolymphatic malformations] representing approximately 15–20% of all orbital masses. Lymphoproliferative lesions and lacrimal fossa masses represent between 10% and 15%, while non-specific orbital inflammatory lesions, optic nerve tumors [glioma and meningioma], and secondary masses from regional tumors all represent between 5% and 10%. Metastatic tumors from a systemic primary disease may represent approximately 5% of orbital disease. Mesenchymal lesions such as schwannoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, osteogenic tumors, etc. are encountered much less frequently, usually below 2–3% in large series.

The most frequently encountered primary orbital tumors in adults are lymphoproliferative lesions and cavernous malformations. In children, the most common orbital tumors tend to be cystic and benign including dermoid cysts and vascular lesions [infantile hemangioma, venolymphatic malformations]. Less common malignancies include rhabdomyosarcoma, histiocytic tumors, Burkitt’s lymphoma, neuroblastoma, Ewing sarcoma, Wilms tumor, and leukemia [12–13].

Metastatic Tumors of Orbit

The prevalence of metastatic neoplasms to orbit has increased in recent decades, due to increased numbers of cancer patients in general, viral epidemics, higher levels of UV and chemical exposures. Further, improved treatments have led to an upsurge in the median survival of these patients, which may increase the risk of developing metastatic lesions throughout the body, including the orbit. An improved level of awareness for orbital metastases has increased detection of these lesions across all disciplines of medicine.

Recent cumulative data indicates that the most commonly affected regions of the orbit with metastatic tumors are lateral (40%), superior (30%), medial (20%), and inferior (10%) quadrants [14]. Another report claims that the anterior orbit, adjacent to lymphatic rich conjunctiva and eyelids, is most commonly involved with metastatic tumors [15].

Some malignancies show distinct tissue selectivity in metastatic disease, for instance, prostate cancer tends toward bone, breast to orbital fat, and carcinoid tumor to muscle. These tendencies can aid in diagnostic planning.

In about 25% of the cases, there may be no history of systemic cancer at the time of orbital tumor presentation. Similar to primary tumors of the orbit, most common presenting signs and symptoms include rapidly developing proptosis and associated eyelid and conjunctiva anomalies, pain, diplopia, and rarely isolated optic neuropathy and enophthalmos. Because of the rapid growth of the malignant neoplasm, the motility disturbance may be out of proportion to the degree of proptosis. Enophthalmos is rare and typically seen in sclerotic carcinomas or after radiation therapy of a preceding orbital mass. Isolated metastases to the eyelid and periocular skin and eyelids are rare [16–17].

Most commonly encountered secondary and metastatic tumors in adult orbit are squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of paranasal sinuses, meningiomas from CNS and breast, lung and prostate cancers respectively [14].

General Considerations in Orbital Tumor Patient

During the patient assessment process , it is vital to establish a good rapport with the patient and the family, which will fortify their trust with the surgeon. It is further critical that the patient’s problem be discussed in detail at every step of management as cancer is usually a serious issue with high morbidity and mortality. If possible, the images of MRI or CT revealing a space-occupying mass in the orbit should be shared with the patient and the family; the obvious difference between the tumor containing orbit and the normal one is usually very informative and convincing for the patient. Furthermore, the reasons for surgery, the expected benefits, and especially potential complications should be discussed in an open manner. If the case is inoperable, alternative management plans should be debated. It is most important that the patient and the family, not the surgeon, decide whether to proceed with surgery. It should be carefully explained that the orbital problem may be part of a systemic disease and that better understanding of the orbital pathology may eventually help to arrive at an effective systemic treatment.

Clinical Evaluation of Orbital Tumor Patient

The evaluation of the orbit begins with a thorough history and physical examination. Detailed systemic and ocular inquiries offer many useful clues. The family history should specify any cancer, craniofacial abnormalities, and other systemic familial diseases such as neurofibromatosis. A history of previous hospitalizations, head and neck injuries, and surgeries should be investigated. A list of the patient’s medications and allergies should be obtained and a tendency toward bleeding should specifically be elicited. Anticoagulants and chemicals which may affect bleeding should be noted and appropriately addressed by cessation at an appropriate interval prior to surgery or managed in conjunction with an internist/hematologist.

Special emphasis on the duration and speed of progression of the symptoms should be heard in the patient’s own words. Symptoms such as displacement of the eye(s), pain, tenderness, diplopia, pulsation, change in the degree of proptosis with position or Valsalva maneuver, and disturbance of visual acuity and/or visual fields are typically elicited [18–19].

A complete ophthalmic examination including assessment of visual acuity, visual field, extraocular motility, anterior and posterior segments, sensory capacity and cranial is essential. Periorbital/orbital changes such as proptosis, abnormal eyelid configuration, skin lesions, edema, chemosis, and the appearance of conjunctival vessels should be carefully evaluated and photographs should be obtained if possible. Apposition and motility abnormalities of the eyelids and the status of lacrimal drainage system (LDS) are additional key points to be checked during the examination.

Diminished or changing visual acuity, color vision, abnormal visual fields, and pupillary abnormalities are important to note. Motility dysfunction and diplopia should be carefully assessed and quantified if possible by Hess screen and/or alternating prism cover test throughout the course of illness. Intraocular pressure should be elevated. Slit lamp examination can discern chemosis, congested tortuous vessels. Dilated indirect ophthalmoscopy may reveal optic disc edema or pallor, retinal detachment, choroidal folds, scleral indentation, vascular engorgement or shunt vessels [19,20,21].

Bilateral or unilateral displacement of the eye (proptosis) is an important clinical manifestation of orbital space-occupying lesions. In addition to axial proptosis, one should note the displacement of the eye in planes other than the antero-posterior direction, vertical and lateral globe dystopia should be documented. The degree of displacement, compared to the fellow eye is generally quantified in millimeters with exophthalmometry (typically with Hertel Exophthalmometer ) (Fig. 10.1). If an exophthalmometer is not available, the relative protrusion can be observed by simply standing behind a seated patient and gazing downward from the forehead to assess the displacement of one globe compared to the other. Alternatively, this can be noted by having the patient elevate the head and looking from below the nose or “worm’s-eye” view. The displacement (proptosis) of the eye is estimated based on the distance (in millimeters) in an anterior-posterior plane between the anterior surface of the cornea and the anterior margin malar eminence. This distance normally varies from 16.5 to 21.5 mm in Caucasian men and 15.5–20 mm in Caucasian women. In African American adults, the measurements are increased by approximately 2 mm in both sexes (Fig. 10.2) [22,23,24].

Fig. 10.1
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Checking the position of the globes with Hertel’s exophthalmometer (a, b); “Worm’s eye view” examination of proptosis of the left eye secondary to a large space occupying lesion in the orbit; (c) Axial CT image showing left eye proptosis (d)

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Fig. 10.2
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(a, b) Normal anatomy of orbits in white and black women in CT. (From Karcioglu [8], with permission)

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External examination for orbital pathology must include the changes of the eyelids, conjunctiva, and periorbital skin and the underlying soft tissues. Regional lymph nodes should be examined. Edema, discoloration, and tenderness of these tissues may provide information regarding the orbital process. Edema of the eyelids without erythema or other inflammatory signs may be associated with vascular and neurogenic tumors, presumably secondary to long-standing venous stasis. Edema with inflammatory signs such as hyperemia and/or tenderness is commonly associated with thyroid eye disease (particularly if in association with eyelid retraction) and orbital inflammatory syndromes (infectious and non-infectious, specific and non-specific). Ecchymosis should not be confused with hyperemia (Fig. 10.3). The former is often seen in metastatic neuroblastoma but may also be encountered with amyloidosis, plasmacytoma, and leukemic infiltrates. A typical feature of ecchymosis, secondary to neuroblastoma, is its changing appearance from day to day [25].

Fig. 10.3
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Bilateral ecchymosis in a patient with metastatic neuroblastoma. (From Karcioglu [8], with permission)

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Xanthelasmas on the periorbital skin should also be noted, since they may be a part of orbital xanthogranuloma or systemic disease (Fig. 10.4) [26–27].

Fig. 10.4
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Bilateral upper lid xanthelasmas in the patient. (From Karcioglu [8], with permission)

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Lesions palpable in the anterior orbit can be evaluated for mobility and the solid versus cystic nature of the mass and its relationship to orbital bones and to other underlying tissues. Some anterior cystic masses can be transilluminated over the skin (Fig. 10.5).

Fig. 10.5
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(a, b) Transillumination of cystic basal cell carcinoma in inferior orbit displacing the globe superiorly. (From Karcioglu [8], with permission)

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Retropulsion is the degree of posterior freedom of movement of the globe which can be tested by the examiner’s hand, pushing over patient’s closed lids without creating too much discomfort. Tactile examination is also helpful to reveal pulsations of the globe secondary to arteriovenous communications and occasionally crepitations in an emphysematous orbit. Auscultation of the orbit may rarely detect a bruit, secondary to A-V malformations or carotid-cavernous fistula but it is of vital importance to recognize this sign clinically. Attention should also be paid to regional lymph nodes for enlargement and tenderness. Certain types of clinical laboratory tests may also be helpful throughout the diagnosis and management of the tumor patient (Table 10.1).

Table 10.1 Laboratory tests for orbital tumor patient
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Imaging in Orbital Tumor Patient

Whereas many pathologic processes intrinsic to the globe may be easily evaluated under direct visualization, radiological imaging is of greater value in the evaluation of orbital and intracranial processes. In current practice, imaging including CT and MRI is the gold standard for diagnosis and management [28,29,30,31] (Tables 10.2, 10.3, 10.4, 10.5, 10.6 and 10.7).

Table 10.2 Imaging protocols for CT and MRI
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Table 10.3 Advantages and disadvantages of CT and MRI
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Table 10.4 MRI features of well-delineated orbital lesions (appearance and signal with respect to vitreous)
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Table 10.5 MRI features of infiltrating orbital lesions (appearance and signal with respect to vitreous)
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Table 10.6 MRI features of lacrimal fossa lesions (appearance and signal with respect to vitreous)
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Table 10.7 MRI features of cystic orbital lesions (appearance and signal with respect to vitreous)
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CT and MRI , independently or together, provide a wealth of information on orbital lesions. Each has a role. CT has advantages in the examination of bony or other high-density lesions. Positron emission tomography (PET) CT is useful for the detection of suspicious lesions throughout the body, in the context of a potentially metastatic orbital tumor.

MRI is advantageous for delineating soft tissue processes, in that different sequences can highlight differences in cellular content of lesions and the local surrounding tissues. Special sequences such as diffusion-weighted MRI, MRI arteriography, and MRI venography can also be particularly helpful for specific suspected diagnoses. Time-resolved sequences such as TRICKS or TWIST can also be useful for vascular lesions.

Ultrasonography (US) which can be done quickly in the clinic at a low cost is uniquely suitable to reveal dynamic changes such as compressibility and internal reflectivity, as well as the cystic nature of lesions. Doppler imaging can provide information regarding vascular flow characteristics within a lesion. This modality is typically applicable primarily for anteriorly located lesions. The information US provides can also be additive to other types of imaging [32].

The most irreplaceable benefit of orbital imaging is not only to provide insight into the differential diagnosis of the tumor but also to reveal the exact localization of the pathology in the orbit. This anatomical precision allows the ophthalmologist to appropriately plan for potential surgery, whether incisional or excisional. Such improvements in preoperative data availability have led to less invasive approaches such as anterior orbitotomies through conjunctival and skin incisions, rather than wider lateral approaches where the location is less well understood preoperatively [33,34,35,36].

Summary

As in any medical diagnostic process, the data obtained in the assessment is assembled into a plan for the patient. The history will guide the examination, and the findings will in turn guide the selection of ancillary procedures and often imaging. Often the differential diagnosis at this point can be narrow, and reasonably so. Based on the requirements of differentiating these diagnostic possibilities and their respective treatment modalities, a management plan is selected. It is often the case in orbital disease that a tissue sample would be required, and the critical decision will be related to whether this tissue sample is obtained in fine needle aspirate, open incisional biopsy, excisional biopsy, or en bloc resection. This decision will be based on the characteristics of the lesion, the considerations for diagnosis and treatment beyond, as well as the wishes of the patient and the capabilities of the treating team.