[Metastatic orbital tumors:a case of orbital metastasis in malignant melanoma of the skin (author's transl)].

The authors feel that orbital tumor metastases are more common than generally presumed. The occurence of orbital metastases of malignant melanomas of the skin is discussed in this paper. Until now 20 cases have been published. Therapy of metastases is an unsolved problem, immunologic factors might be of some importance. The authoress describes a case of histologically verified orbital metastasis of a primary malignant melanoma of the skin, which was surgical removed three years ago. In contrast to similar cases other haematogen tumor manifestations were absent first, and the orbital metastasis seemed to be totally removed by orbital exenteration. One year later however, probably as a second metastasis, rapidly progressive tumor tissue appeared. General melanomatosis having appeared at the same time finally lead to death.