Surgical approaches to cavernous haemangiomas of the orbit

Cavernous haemangiomas are the most common orbital masses and the second most common cause of unilateral proptosis after thyroid ophthalmopathy. We retrospectively analysed 19 patients with retrobulbar cavernous haemangiomas, 9 of whom had lateral orbitotomy to remove retrobulbar cavernous haemangiomas located superior (n = 4), inferior (n = 2) or lateral (n = 3) to the optic nerve. Seven patients had lateral orbitotomy together with an anterior medial approach to gain access to retrobulbar cavernous haemangiomas located medially to the optic nerve in the posterior half of the orbit. An anterior approach was used in 3 patient with an anteriorly located cavernous haemangioma. We describe here the planning of surgical treatment based on the site of the lesion. © 2007 The British Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons.