Orbital cavernous angiomas: surgical experience on a series of 13 cases

Cavernous angiomas of the orbit are benign vascular growths, commonly occurring in adults and usually causing a slowly progressive proptosis from their mass effect. These lesions have behavioural and radiological findings different from those of brain cavernous angiomas, probably due to their particular origin and structure. The authors present a surgical series of 13 patients with orbital cavernous angiomas. Complete excision of lesions, with histological diagnosis, was obtained in all the 13 cases. Results were good in 10 patients, while 2 remained clinically unchanged and another one showed acute visual deterioration after a period of postoperative clinical stabilization. The main clinical and radiological characteristics of orbital cavernous angiomas are analyzed, together with their surgical management.