Orbial Tumor

What is Orbital Tumor?

Orbital tumors are abnormal growths of tissue in the structures that surround the eye. These lesions may be either benign or malignant, and may arise primarily from the orbit or may spread (metastasize) from elsewhere in the body.

The most common types of orbital tumors vary considerably by age, but include cysts, vascular lesions (arising from blood vessels), lymphomas, neurogenic tumors (arising from nerves), and secondary tumors (either metastatic or spread directly from the surrounding sinuses or cranium).

What are the symptoms of orbital tumors?

On occasion, these tumors may be symptom-free, and patients may develop their symptoms slowly over a long period. Other patients have a very rapid onset of symptoms, and the location and nature of their symptoms are often important clues to determine whether a problem is benign or malignant.

Many patients develop a bulging of the eye (proptosis or exophthalmos) from the orbit that contains the tumor. Because the eye may be pushed forward, the eyelids often appear to be retracted from it. Some tumors can actually be seen or felt on examination. Some orbital tumors may cause decreased vision, transient episodes of vision loss, or double vision.