[The clinical analysis of cranio-orbital communicating tumors]

To investigate the clinical manifestations, imageological features, surgical approaches and prognosis of cranio-orbital communicating tumors.

The retrospective analysis was performed in the 22 patients of cranio-orbital communicating tumors in the past three years. CT and MRI examinations were applied in all cases. Of 16 patients were treated by surgical approaches, Of 6 patients were for radiation therapy.

Of 22 cases, 2 cases were osteoid osteoma, 3 cases were meningioma, 1 case was aneurysmal bone cyst, 2 cases were mucous cyst, 2 cases were schwannoma, 2 cases were adenoid cystic carcinoma of lacrimal gland, 2 cases were metastatic carcinoma, and 2 cases were rhabdomyosarcoma. Other 6 cases were treated by radiotherapy without pathological diagnosis. 8 cases for orbital operation including excision of orbital contents 1/8, anterior orbitotomy 3/8, and lateral orbitotomy 4/8, and 8 cases for transcranial operation including frontotemporal orbital roof approach 3/8 and pterion approach 5/8. After operation, the vision acuity of 3 cases was improved, of 10 cases was unchanged and of 3 cases was decreased. Two patients died of metastasis. Among 8 cases of transcranial operation, the complaints such as eye movement disorder, proptosis and conjunctival edema emerged in 1 case. However, among 8 cases of orbital operation, such above complaints were respectively found in 7, 5 and 6 cases.

CT and MRI have the great value for diagnosis of cranio-orbital communicating tumors, especially combined with enhanced contrast MRI. Resection of cranio-orbital communicating tumors via the transcranial surgical approach is the effective surgical approach for cranio-orbital communicating tumors.