CARCINOID-TUMORS OF THE ORBIT - A DILEMMA OF DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT

Carcinoid tumors arise from the gastrointestinal tract or the bronchia l tree, and tumors of either origin produce symptoms locally or secret e amines that produce a carcinoid syndrome systemically. Metastatic ca rcinoid tumors to the orbit are rare and, thus, present a special prob lem in diagnosis and treatment. We describe a case of metastatic orbit al carcinoid that presented itself 6 years prior to the discovery of t he primary ileal lesion. This case report describes the unusual presen tation, reviews previously published data, and addresses controversial opinions regarding therapy.