[Expanding lesions of the orbit: Multicase review]

Different types of neoplastic and non neoplastic lesions can affect the orbit causing ocular damage. Aim of the present study was that to review a series of endoorbital neoplastic and non neoplastic space occupying lesions. All the cases of endoorbital lesions, seen during the period January 1980-September 1996, were retrieved from the files of the Department of Pathology of the Ospedale Bellaria of Bologna (Italy). All the cases were reviewed and reclassified according to the WHO criteria. One hundred-twenty-six cases of orbital lesions were selected; of these 88 were benign, 36 malignant and 2 borderline. The cases were then subdivided into the following categories: benign lesions of soft tissues (37 cases), malignant lesions of soft tissues (5 cases), lymphoid tumors and pseudotumors (12 cases), other primitive endoorbital tumors (18 cases), secondary and metastatic tumors (43 cases), tumors of the optic nerve (6 cases) and non neoplastic lesions (3 cases). A great variety of lesions can affect the orbit, most of which are benign in nature. Thus a correct diagnosis followed by a correct treatment of the patients can avoid severe ocular damage.