[Imaging of orbital cellulitis in children: about 56 cases]

Orbital cellulitis is rare but potentially severe in children. Diagnosis is primarily based on clinical examination and imaging (CT or MRI). This study aims to highlight the role of imaging, in particular CT scan, in the diagnosis and in the treatment of this pathology. We conducted a retrospective study of 56 cases of orbital cellulitis, whose data were collected in the Department of Radiology at the Hospital mother and child CHU Mohamed VI, Marrakech over a period of six years (January 2011-October 2017). Patients underwent cranio-orbital CT scan. The average age of patients was 5 years, with a slight female predominance. The disease mainly involved the sinus (22 patients). The analysis of computed tomography results highlighted 37 cases of preseptal cellulitis (66%), 3 cases of isolated retroseptal cellulitis (5%), 16 cases of mixed cellulitis (28%), 8 cases of exophthalmia (14%) and 4 cases of subperiosteal abscess (7%). Orbital cellulitis is a serious infection in children, affecting short term vital prognosis as well as medium-term and long-term functional visual prognosis. Positive diagnosis is based on clinical examination. Imaging plays an important role in topographical and etiological diagnosis and as guidance for treatment.