EMBOLIZATION OF ORBITAL VARIX

A 34-year-old man with intermittent exophthalmos, found to have a larg e varix in the right orbit, was treated by endovascular surgery. Percu taneous transfemoral venous catheterisation and embolisation of the or bital varix was performed on two occasions. A Tracker 18 microcatheter was introduced through the right inferior petrosal sinus, cavernous s inus, superior ophthalmic vein and then into the varix, following a gu idewire. Superselective venography of the right ophthalmic vein showed the varix. A total of 204 platinum microcoils was used to pack the va rix. At the time of discharge, the exophthalmos had largely resolved. As this technique is much less invasive than surgical resection, we re commend an attempt at endovascular embolisation of orbital varices pri or to surgical removal.