Survival after malignant tumors of the orbit and periorbit treated by exenteration

Purpose: In order to further assess the survival value of orbital exenterat ion in malignant orbital and periorbital tumors. Methods: The charts of 44 patients exenterated for a neoplasm of the orbit or periorbit mere reviewed in a retrospective study. Results: The overall 4-year survival was 45%, 26 patients had free margins on histological examination and 24 patients had developed local recurrence or metastasis. Local recurrence or metastasis were significantly more commo n in the group with transected margins than in the group with free-margins (p=0.01). Survival between the group of patients with local recurrence or m etastasis and the group without local recurrence or metastasis showed stati stically significant difference (p=0.0025). In contrast, survival between t he group of patients with free margins and the group with transected margin s did not show statistically significant difference (p=0.13), Conclusion: Surgical free margins section is a key element in successful ca ncer surgery but seems not the only prognosis variable.