Periorbital, conjunctival and primary intraorbital carcinomas: Survival and risk factors after orbital exenteration

This study aimed to analyse the disease-free survival (DFS), overall survival (OS) and risk factors after orbital exenteration in patients with periorbital, conjunctival and primary intraorbital carcinomas.

Patients undergoing orbital exenteration due to a primary carcinoma between March 2000 and March 2018 were included in this retrospective study. Risk factors in all the patients were evaluated using univariate and multivariate analyses.

In total, 97 patients were enroled in this study. The most common tumours were conjunctival carcinoma (35 cases), squamous cell carcinoma of the skin (27 cases) and basal cell carcinoma (20 cases). The median follow-up period was 36 months. The average age of the patients was 67.3 years (range, 29-93 years). In all the patients, OS was 85% after 1 year and 69% after 5 years, while DFS was 71% after 1 year and 55% after 5 years. Univariate analysis of OS revealed that the following parameters were predictive of a poor prognosis: localisation, neck dissection, lymph node metastases, lymphatic invasion, perineural invasion, resection margins and immunosuppression. Multivariate analysis revealed resection margins as the only independent risk factor.

Orbital exenteration is rarely necessary in patients with periorbital, conjunctival and primary intraorbital carcinomas; however, it can be performed as an ultima ratio treatment with a curative intent. Clear margins can be achieved in most cases. OS and DFS are not significantly different in the subgroups. In most cases, recurrence occurs within the first 2 years.