Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

A Review of 244 Orbital Tumors in Japanese Patients During a 21-Year Period: Origins and Locations

  • CLINICAL INVESTIGATION
  • Published:
Japanese Journal of Ophthalmology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

To review 244 cases of orbital tumors to determine the distribution of patient age, pathology, and tumor origin and location.

Methods

We reviewed cases of histopathologically or radiologically verified orbital tumors at our institution from 1981 through 2002, and studied the distribution of patient age, pathology, origin of tumors, and tumor location in the orbit in 244 consecutive patients (aged from 0 to 90 years, mean, 48.7 years; 114 men, 130 women).

Results

Among the 244 cases, 213 (89%) were primary orbital tumors, 23 (9%) were secondary tumors originating in contiguous spaces, and 8 (2%) were metastatic tumors. Regarding the location in the orbit, 122 tumors (50%) were extraconal, 36 (15%) were intraconal, and 86 (35%) were in the lacrimal gland area. The common tumors were reactive lymphoid hyperplasia (22%) and malignant lymphoma (20%) in the extraconal area; cavernous hemangioma (25%), optic nerve glioma (14%), and optic nerve sheath meningioma (14%) in the intraconal area; and malignant lymphoma (40%) and pleomorphic adenoma (24%) in the lacrimal gland area. The age distribution of the 244 patients exhibited two peaks, at 0 to 9 years and 60 to 69 years. In the 0- to 9-year-old patients, the most common tumors were dermoid cyst (26%), optic nerve glioma (11%), capillary hemangioma (11%), and hemorrhagic lymphangioma (11%). On the other hand, in patients over 40 years of age, the common tumors were malignant lymphoma (31%), orbital pseudotumor (24%), pleomorphic adenoma (10%), and cavernous hemangioma (9%).

Conclusions

The pathologic profiles of orbital tumors were characterized according to patient age and the location of the tumor in the orbit. The age of onset, tumor location, and radiological findings provide us with important information for the diagnosis of a tumor prior to biopsy or tumor resection and for the determination of the treatment strategy. Jpn J Ophthalmol 2005;49:49–55 © Japanese Ophthalmological Society 2005

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ophthalmology, Sapporo Medical University School of Medicine Sapporo, Japan

    Kenji Ohtsuka, Masato Hashimoto & Yasuo Suzuki

Authors
  1. Kenji Ohtsuka
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Masato Hashimoto
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Yasuo Suzuki
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kenji Ohtsuka.

About this article

Cite this article

Ohtsuka, K., Hashimoto, M. & Suzuki, Y. A Review of 244 Orbital Tumors in Japanese Patients During a 21-Year Period: Origins and Locations. Jpn J Ophthalmol 49, 49–55 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10384-004-0147-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10384-004-0147-y

Key words

Search

Navigation