TRANSCONJUNCTIVAL APPROACH TO A LARGE CAVERNOMA OF THE ORBIT

ORBITAL TUMORS, PARTICULARLY those within the retrobulbar space, are s ometimes approached by neurosurgeons as well as by ophthalmic and by m axillofacial surgeons. There are numerous descriptions for the operati ve techniques applied in this area. Most lesions are attacked extracra nially via a lateral orbitotomy or transcranially, with or without res ection of the sphenoid bone or the orbital rim. Less traumatic approac hes in patients harboring a tumor in this functionally and cosmeticall y important region, therefore, are desirable. We describe a microneuro surgical transconjunctival approach to a large retrobulbar cavernoma i n a 59-year-old man. This technique has led to a very satisfactory res ult, and the operation can be performed without transient section of e xtraocular muscles in sections.