PRIMARY BENIGN-TUMORS OF THE ORBITAL CAVITY - COMPARATIVE DATA IN A SERIES OF PATIENTS WITH OPTIC-NERVE GLIOMA, SHEATH MENINGIOMA, OR NEURINOMA

BACKGROUND Patients operated on for the most common benign pathologies of the orbital cavity-optic nerve glioma, sheath meningioma and neuri noma-should be surgically treated. However, postoperative visual impai rment is frequently inevitable. A wait-and-see policy due to a slow ra te of growth of these lesions is criticized. METHODS Collecting data f rom three series of patients operated, we compare the surgical procedu res and long-term results. RESULTS ''En bloc'' removal in patients wit h optic nerve glioma led to complete visual deficit but ensures excell ent long-term prognosis, Because optic nerve meningiomas are typically circumferential to the optic nerve and adhere tightly to the perineur al pial microvascular structures, it is impossible to avoid trauma to the optic nerve and recurrences. Patients with neurinoma of the orbita l cavity have the most favourable prognosis both in terms of visual fu nction as well as long-term quality of life. CONCLUSIONS Due to its sl ow rate of growth, a wait-and-see policy can be adopted for optic nerv e glioma before deciding on surgical removal, whereas surgical treatme nt of meningioma may be postponed if symptoms are slight and steady. R emoval of orbital cavity neurinoma should not be postponed since surgi cal outcome is excellent.