Orbital metastasis: clinical features, management and outcome

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Oncology
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Orbital metastases represent secondary malignant tumors affecting the eye socket.
• Understanding their clinical presentation, treatment, and prognosis is crucial for patient management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the clinical features, treatment modalities, outcomes, and survival rates of patients with metastatic tumors of the orbit.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective, non-comparative chart review was conducted on 80 patients diagnosed with orbital metastasis.
• Data were collected from four tertiary orbital centers in Australia.

Main Results:

• The study included 80 patients (44 male, mean age 60). Common symptoms were diplopia (48%), pain (42%), and visual loss (30%). Frequent signs included proptosis (63%) and strabismus (62%).
• Breast carcinoma (29%), melanoma (20%), and prostate cancer (13%) were the most common primary tumors. Survival was limited to 1.5 years.
• Orbital melanoma incidence was higher than in previous studies, potentially linked to Australia's high skin cancer rates.

Conclusions:

• A high index of suspicion and prompt histological diagnosis are vital for managing orbital metastases and improving quality of life.
• Overall survival remains limited, with challenges in statistically differentiating survival based on primary tumor subtypes.
• The increased incidence of orbital melanoma warrants further investigation.