[Use of computer tomography for localization of a biopsy needle for tissue collection from the orbit]

In four patients with orbital expansion the authors used computed tomography (CT) to locate the bioptic needle inserted into the orbit. In all these instances it proved possible to collect a sufficient amount of pathological tissue to assess the diagnosis. Serious side-effects were observed only in one case, where the patient developed after insertion of the needle transient bradycardia. CT was also used to locate the needle for exhausting of blood from a lymphangioma of the orbit.