Orbital exenteration for sinonasal malignancies: indications, rehabilitation and oncologic outcomes

Review the recent literature regarding the management of orbital invasion in sinonasal malignant tumors.

There is a recent trend in preserving the orbit in cases of minimal invasion of periosteum and limited periorbit involvement, as well as in presence of good response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy, mainly in squamous cell carcinoma and neuroendocrine histologies.

The decision about orbital exenteration in cases of sinonasal malignancies is facilitated if the patient already has clear clinical signs of intraconal invasion such as visual loss, restriction of ocular mobility or infiltration of the eyeglobe. However, in borderline situations, confirmation of orbital involvement should be performed intraoperatively. In selected cases with minimal orbital invasion without functional compromise, orbit sparing surgery can be done with acceptable oncological outcomes.