[Early diagnosis of the tumors in orbital apex and optic nerve].

OBJECTIVE

To obtain clues for early diagnosis of the tumors in orbital apex and optic nerve.

METHODS

Twenty-two cases (22 eyes) of orbital tumors without proptosis were collected, and their clinical manifestations, especially main or first symptoms, the course of their diagnosis and treatment as well as the data of ultrasonography-B, CT and MRI were analyzed.

RESULTS

Among 22 cases of the orbital tumors, there were 6 cases of cavernous hemangioma, 6 cases of the tumors from paransal sinuses or nasopharyngeal cavity, 4 cases of neurilemmoma and optic nerve sheath meningioma, neurofibroma, and 1 case of optic nerve glioma. There were 17 cases with visual impairment as the first presenting symptom and 3 cases with visual impairment associated with diplopia which was misdiagnosed as optic neuritis or optic atrophy. Finally, all cases were diagnosed accurately by CT or MRI. The vast majority of that originated from the orbital apex or optic nerve sheath, and the biggest diameter of the tumors was smaller than 1.5 cm.

CONCLUSIONS

The early symptoms of the tumors in orbital apex and optic nerve tumors were visual impairment without proptosis. It is important that these patients were examined early by CT and MRI.