[Histopathologic classification of 1422 orbital tumors]

The authors analyzed 1422 orbital tumors examined 1955-1986 in the eye pathology laboratory. The 5 leading malignant orbital tumors were adenocarcinoma (207 cases), squamous cell carcinoma (135 cases), rhabdomyosarcoma (52 cases), lymphosarcoma (39 cases), and malignant mixed tumor (29 cases). The 5 leading benign orbital tumors were cavernous hemangioma (304 cases), benign mixed tumor (109 cases), inflammatory pseudo-tumor of the orbit (101 cases), dermoid cyst (100 cases), and optic meningioma (65 cases). Rare tumors of the orbit included 1 case each of alveolar soft tissue sarcoma, chondrosarcoma, mesenchymal chondrosarcoma, synovial sarcoma, giant cell tumor, granular myoblastoma, metastatic leiomyosarcoma of the uterus and metastatic lymphoepithelioma. The criteria for pathological classification and differential diagnosis are discussed.