Visual function alterations in cavernous hemangioma of the orbital apex after surgery

Dear Editor,I am Dr.Kang Xue,from the Department of Ophthalmology at the Eye,Ear,Nose and Throat Hospital of Fudan University in Shanghai,China.I am writing to present three case reports of the removal of visual function alterations in cavernous hemangioma of the orbital apex after surgery.Cavernous hemangioma is a relatively common primary benign orbital tumor in adults.

Eyelid malposition after orbital fracture surgery

Orbital fractures generally do not cause eyelid malposition.Studies have shown that mostly eyelid malposition is mainly due to the choice of surgical approaches of orbital fracture repair.Approaches are divided into transcutaneous and transconjunctival ones.The application of orbital fracture approaches depends on fractures’range and the surgeons’preferences.Eyelid malposition after orbital fracture surgery is not only an aesthetic concern but also a functional complication,which will cause eyes discomfort,such as corneal exposure and ocular irritation.Some patients may have multiple types of eyelid malposition.In this review,we summarized the surgical approaches of orbital fractures and the complications including scar,ectropion,retraction,entropion,flattening,laceration and lacrimal canaliculus avulsion and notch deformity that associated with eyelid,especially the lower eyelid.Reports revealed that the scar usually occurred in infraorbital incisions compared with subtarsal and subciliary incisions,and the transconjunctival approach had a higher incidence of entropion and flattening,and less ectropion than the transcutaneous approach.Meanwhile,pathogenesis of eyelid malposition after orbital fracture surgery are discussed.Furthermore,to prevent eyelid malposition complications,doctors should choose the appropriate orbital fracture approach according to the patient’s needs,and delicate tissue management,technical expertise,and meticulous hemostasis are necessary.Conservative treatment with taping,lubricating ointment,and steroid for eyelid malposition complications should be performed first,and then surgical intervention when the conservative treatment fails.

MANAGEMENT OF THE ORBITAL CONTENTS IN RADICAL SURGERY FOR SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMA OF THE MAXILLARY SINUS

We reviewed retrospectively 139 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the maxillary sinus who were treated with planned combinations of preoperative radiotherapy and maxillectomy between 1958 and 1987. The 5-year survival rate of these patients was 30%. In 111 patients who had tumor invasion of the orbital floor 88 underwent radical surgery with orbital exenteration and 23 had their orbital contents preserved. If orbital exenteration was performed, the 5-year survival rate was 27.3% (24 / 88) and the rate of recurrence within the orbit was 12.5%. In patients with preservation of the orbital contents, the corresponding rates were 34.8% (8 / 23) and 8.6% respectively (P = 0.65). Histological study af ter maxillectomy with orbital exenteration showed that in 95% of 65 specimens (62 / 65) invasion of the orbit was limited. These tumors could be completely resected by total maxillectomy with limited removal of the periorbital tissues after preoperative radiotherapy. We conclude that after preoperative radiation, the eyeball could be safely preserved in most selected patients with maxillary sinus carcinoma invading the orbital floor.

Endoscopic endonasal intraconal orbit surgery

Endoscopic endonasal orbital surgery is evolving.With increasing knowledge,expertise,and technology,the historical limits of the endonasal endoscopic approach to the orbit have been redefined.This review discusses the clinical presentation and etiology,and highlights the pertinent anatomy,and discusses the diagnostic workup and surgical approach to orbital tumors and post-operative care.The role of the multidisciplinary team is not to be underestimated.The introduction of a classification system to ensure standardization of technical difficulty and outcome data will assist with international collaboration and further consolidate our attainment of knowledge in this developing field.