VASCULAR TUMORS OF THE ORBIT

Eighty-five vascular lesions of the orbit examined and treated between 1963-1993 were reviewed retrospectively to reveal the types of vascul ar tumors, age and sex distribution, clinical characteristics, treatme nt options and prognosis. Capillary hemangioma was the most frequent o rbital vascular tumor accounting for 37 of 85 cases making up 43.5% of the entire orbital masses. Cavernous hemangioma accounted for 35 case s (41.2%), varices for 3 cases (3.5%), anteriovenous malformations for 3 cases (3.5%), angiosarcomas for 3 cases (3.5%), lymphangiomas for 3 cases (3.5%) and hemangiopericytoma for one case (1.2%). Of the 85 va scular tumor cases 43 were encountered in children aged 18 years or le ss. Capillary hemangioma was the most frequent pediatric orbital vascu lar lesion, making up 86% of the vascular tumors in this age group. Ca pillary hemangiomas have been treated with observation and intralesion al corticosteroid injections. Cavernous hemangiomas, vascular malforma tions, lymphangiomas and two cases of angiosarcomas received orbitotom y. One case each of angiosarcoma and hemangiopericytoma underwent exen teration because of the advanced stage of the lesion. There was one tu mor-related death who was a 9-year-old boy diagnosed with angiosarcoma . Vascular tumors with the exception of angiosarcomas and hemangioperi cytoma behaved as benign lesions.