[Epidemiology of orbital processes in children. 54 cases].

PURPOSE: The aim of this work was to study epidemiological aspect of orbital 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 manifestations were low vision (8 cases), ocular pain (14 cases), inflammatory signs (11 cases), ocular palsy (14 cases). The first cause of these processes was secondary tumors, especially retinoblastoma (13 cases). Other causes were rhabdomyosarcoma (9 cases), orbital hydatic cyst (8 cases), inflammatory 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 processes in Moroccan children where retinoblastoma predominates and compare our findings with data in the literature.