ORBITAL PRESERVATION IN MAXILLECTOMY

Twenty-eight previously untreated patients with squamous carcinoma of the maxillary sinus underwent maxillectomy with preservation of the or bital contents at the M. D. Anderson Cancer Center between 1971 and 19 86. Eighteen patients had part or all of the orbital floor resected; n ine patients were treated with radiotherapy, and nine had surgery only . Only 3 of 18 patients in this group (17%) retained significant funct ion in the ipsilateral eye. Furthermore, local recurrence in this grou p was common (44%), regardless of whether postoperative radiotherapy w as used. Ten patients retained the bony orbital floor; if the radiatio n fields did not include the eye, problems were minimal. Strong consid eration should be given to orbital exenteration at the time of surgery , when the orbital floor is resected-especially if postoperative radia tion fields will include the eye.