Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Paediatric Orbital Tumors With Pathological Correlation

Paediatric orbital tumours include a broad spectrum of benign and malignant lesions that range from developmental anomalies to primary and metastatic orbital malignancies. Sometimes, clinical signs and symptoms are not enough to differentiate between orbital lesions; hence, MRI plays a crucial role in cases where clinical and historical findings are inconclusive.

The aim of the study is to evaluate the different orbital tumours in paediatric patients by magnetic resonance imaging and their pathological correlation.

We conducted a prospective observation study of 64 paediatric patients (38 males and 26 females), with an age range of one month to 15 years and a mean of 4.6 years, who underwent orbital MRI for suspected tumors at Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Science, Patna, a tertiary care center, over a period of one year.

Of 64 patients (mean age 4.6 years), 38 (59.3%) were boys and 26 (40.7%) were girls. The most common presentation in our study is leukocoria (white pupillary reflex), and out of 64 cases, 37 (57.8%) were found malignant and 27 (42.2%) were benign lesions. The most common diagnosis was retinoblastoma (32 cases, 50%). Common benign tumours include dermoid cyst, capillary hemangioma, epidermal inclusion cyst and lipodermoid cyst.

As symptoms are not well appreciated in paediatric orbital tumours, for early diagnosis and staging, excellent imaging (MRI ) and histopathological examination are necessary in order for timely detection and to prevent advanced stage at presentation.