[Primary intraorbital meningiomas]

The authors found in literature the description of 124 cases of intra-orbital primitive meningiomas; they illustrate their clinico-surgical aspects as well as the differential features on the ground of their point of origin: 90 meningiomas of the (dural) sheath of the optic nerve (23 intraforaminal ones and 67 extraforaminal ones), 34 extradural meningiomas; they present 4 original cases, 3 extradural ones and 1 of the sheath of the optic nerve. After describing the elements of differential diagnosis with the most common intra-orbital expansive lesions (gliomas, sarcomas, angiomas, psuedotumors or orbital granulomas) the authors end by stating that total extirpation must be always carried out including, if necessary, the optic nerve and the ocular globe when it is invaded.