[Orbital diseases in childhood].

BACKGROUND

Orbital diseases in childhood are rare and differ from orbital lesions occurring in adults. Most paediatric orbital tumours are benign, but rapid tumour growth can nevertheless threaten vision or lives.

PATIENTS: Retrospectively, we analyzed data of 41 consecutive patients with orbital disease, treated in our hospital between 2000 and 2004. The data was evaluated using descriptive statistics and case reports.

RESULTS

All children (from neonatals up to 16 years of age) with orbital disease were included in the study. The most common benign disease of the entire collective was an epidermal cyst (n = 18), followed by orbital capillary haemangioma (n = 4) in children under 3 years, and preseptal cellulitis in children older than 3 years. 5 patients were treated for malignant tumours, of which one patient under 3 years had an orbital metastasis of an abdominal neuroblastoma.

CONCLUSION

Awareness of orbital diseases in childhood, as a rare entity, is crucial for timely diagnosis and appropriate treatment, to save the vision and lives of affected children.