Evaluation of orbital and eye lesions by radiographic examination, ultrasound, and computerized tomography

This article examines three imaging procedures for the evaluation of orbital and eye lesions. In the radiographic section we discuss the normal anatomy, the projections to show the anatomy, and the interpretation of bone changes caused by benign and malignant lesions. In the next section we describe the equipment employed in the ultrasonic evaluation of the eye and orbit and the principles applied in the diagnosis of lesions of the eye and orbit by ultrasound. We introduce the CT section by explaining the methodology of computerized tomography of the orbit. The criteria for evaluating lesions of the eye and orbit are presented with appropriate cases for illustration. The discussion and summary detail the relative merit of these imaging procedures ad their usefulness in the diagnosis work-up of pathological conditions of the eye and orbit.