Evaluation of and access to posterior orbital tumors

Head and neck surgeons enter the peripheral orbit for the therapy and/or biopsy of the most common expanding lesions, i.e., thyroid ophthalmopathy, direct extension of paranasal disease, pseudotumor and metastases. It is in this space between the bony orbital walls and the extraocular muscle cone that a majority of primary orbital neoplasms occur. The four basic approaches to posterior orbital tumors are: lateral orbitotomy through the temporal fossa with a modified Kronlein procedure, medial orbitotomy utilizing a Lynch incision and lacriminal sac mobilization, superior orbitotomy via a Naffziger frontotemporal crainotomy, and inferior exposure/decompression through the maxillary sinus. Case examples of the former two approaches are presented. None of these standard procedures allows full exposure of the posterior orbit. A combined cranio-facial-orbital access to this region utilizing a modified maxillectomy and frontotemporal craniotomy is detailed.