INCIDENTAL ASYMPTOMATIC ORBITAL CALCIFICATIONS

Objective: To use modern computed tomography (CT) imaging to quantify the incidence of asymptomatic incidental orbital calcifications and de scribe their histological features. Materials and Methods: One hundred orbital CT scans were reviewed. In addition, patients who had orbital calcification(s) detected on a brain CT scan were examined by the oph thalmology service. Results: Of the orbital CT scans, 2% had bilateral drusen of the optic nerve head, 3% had calcified scleral plaques ante rior to the medial or lateral rectus muscles, and 3% had bilateral oss ification of the trochlear apparatus. Routine brain CT scans detected asymptomatic calcifications of the sclera and dura surrounding the pro ximal optic nerves. Conclusion: Incidental asymptomatic orbital calcif ications are commonly encountered on modern high-resolution CT images of the brain and orbit. This article should help the clinician to conf idently distinguish these densities from foreign bodies or pathologica l calcifications.