Pediatric tumors of the orbit and optic pathway.

We present an overview of the treatment and clinical outcome of 30 pediatric patients with orbital and optic pathway tumors cared for in our center from 1991 to 2002. Follow-ups were available for 48 months on average. Eight of 14 gliomas of the optic nerve or pathway were subtotally resected via a pterional approach. Two were totally resected with transection of the optic nerve, 2 were only biopsied and 2 were observed. One of 4 optic nerve sheath meningiomas in patients with good visual acuity was subtotally resected with decompression of the optic canal. Two were totally resected with transection of the prechiasmal optic nerve and 1 was only biopsied. Four infectious intra-/extraconal lesions were biopsied (transconjunctival approach) and treated with antibiotics. Two vascular intra-/extraconal tumors (hemangiomas) were removed via a transconjunctival approach and a lateral orbitotomy. The following histologies only occurred once: dermoid cyst, aneurysmal bone cyst, eosinophilic granuloma, fibrous dysplasia, osteopetrosis and rhabdomyosarcoma. The spectrum of pathology in pediatric orbital tumors is wide and requires multidisciplinary treatment.