AbstractThe orbital tumours coming to neurosurgical team are often those, which are referred by ophthalmological units when they consider it to be complex in nature that is retrobulbar tumours complicated by extraorbital and intracranial extensions. Methods: clinical records of 23 patients operated for retrobulbar orbital pathologies in department of neurosurgery, Bangalore medical college and research institute from 2011 to June 2016 were reviewed and analysed. Patient’s demographics, symptoms and signs at presentation, and histologic diagnosis were recorded. Results: Twenty three patients were operated, of which 12 were men and 11 women, and the age of patients ranged from 11 to 65 years and mean age was 43 years. Fourteen patients had primary intraorbital tumours, 8 patients had secondary orbital tumours extending from other adjacent contiguous bones or structures and 1 patient had metastatic tumour from ovarian neuroendocrine carcinoma. Conclusions: Orbit being a complex anatomical entity, management of complex tumours poses a challenging surgical problem. Although a significant percentage of these tumours are treated by the ophthalmologist alone, proficiency with a multitude of approaches and collaboration with a neurosurgeon is often required, especially for tumours that are located deep within the orbit, are large, or have an intracranial extension. Technical advances and modifications in surgical techniques along with involvement of plastic surgeons have decreased surgeryrelated morbidity and involvement of radiation oncologist to the team for adjuvant radiotherapy/chemotherapy would be beneficial for prolonged recurrence free and better quality of life.
Keywords: Orbital Tumours; Proptosis; Lateral Orbitotomies; Superior Orbitotomies; Craniofacial Excisions.