Age-related changes in the pediatric human orbit on CT

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Pediatric Ophthalmology
• Craniofacial Development

Background:

• Understanding normal orbital and globe growth is essential for diagnosing and managing various pediatric eye conditions.
• Previous studies have focused on specific orbital parameters, but a comprehensive characterization of age-related changes across multiple dimensions is lacking.

Purpose of the Study:

• To characterize the relationships among orbital dimensions, globe diameter, and subject age.
• To establish normative data for orbital and globe growth in children.
• To provide a basis for clinical applications in pediatric ophthalmology, particularly in managing anophthalmos.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional, retrospective analysis of 124 CT scans from subjects without orbital or globe disease.
• Seventeen length and 5 angle measurements of orbital aspects were obtained.
• Subjects were grouped by age to analyze age-related changes in orbital and globe parameters.

Main Results:

• Orbital and globe measurements showed excellent intraobserver reliability (r > 0.95).
• Globe diameter and most linear orbital measurements increased rapidly in the first 12-24 months, reaching 86-96% of adult values by age 8.
• Globe protrusion and orbital angles exhibited different growth patterns compared to linear measurements.

Conclusions:

• Human orbital growth is strongly correlated with ipsilateral globe growth, with rapid changes in early childhood.
• The established growth pattern provides a reference for normal age-related changes in the orbit.
• This data may be clinically applicable in managing pediatric anophthalmos and other conditions affecting orbital development.