Epidemiological aspects of orbital processes in children: 54 cases

Purpose : The aim of this work was to study epidemiological aspects of orbi tal processes occurring in childhood. Patients and methods: Fifty-four cases of orbital processes treated between January 1990 and January 1997 were retrospectively reviewed. Results: Mean patient age was 4.2 years (range 1 to 15), 36 were males and 18 were females. Proptosis was the first manifestation in 34 cases, other m anifestations were low vision (8 cases), ocular pain (14 cases), inflammato ry signs (1 1 cases), ocular palsy(14 cases). The first cause of these proc esses was secondary tumors, especially retinoblastoma (13 cases). Other cau ses were rhabdomyosarcoma (9 cases), orbital hydatic cyst (8 cases), inflam matory pseudotumors (7 cases), capillary hemanigoma (4 cases), chloroma (3 cases), glioma (1 case), lymphangioma (8 cases), and mucocele(1 case). Discussion: We emphasize the particular epidemiological aspect of orbital p rocesses in Moroccan children where retinoblastoma predominates and compare our findings with data in the literature.