Tumors metastatic to the orbit

A review of 35 consecutive cases of tumors metastatic to the orbit revealed that the primary tumor site was breast in 18 cases (51%), prostate in 6 cases (17%), lung in 2 cases (6%), gastrointestinal tract in 2 cases (6%), kidney in 1 case (3%), cutaneous melanoma in 1 case (3%), contralateral choroidal melanoma in 1 case (3%), and unknown in 4 cases (11%). The most common presenting signs and symptoms included diplopia with noncomitant strabismus, proptosis, and a palpable mass. In nine cases (26%), the orbital metastasis was detected in patients with no prior history of cancer. The average patient survival after the diagnosis of orbital metastasis was 13 months. Orbital metastasis from lung carcinoma carried the worst prognosis, with an average survival time of only 4 months. A summary of the clinical features of these 35 cases and a review of the literature on orbital metastatic disease will be presented.