Analysis of orbital malignancies presenting in a tertiary care hospital in Pakistan

OBJECTIVE: To determine the frequencies of various orbital malignancies amongst orbital lesions in patients presenting in a tertiary care hospital in Pakistan. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 666 orbital cases with an established histopathological diagnosis of malignant tumors treated in Mayo Hospital Lahore from 1996 to 2015 (20 years). RESULTS: About 66% of the malignant tumors were primary, 25% secondary, 8% haematopoietic and 1% metastatic. Almost 50% of the cases were children. Retinoblastoma is the commonest tumor (43% overall and 87% among children). Squamous cell carcinoma is the second commonest (15.6% overall and 31% among adults). These are then followed by Adenoid cystic carcinoma of Lacrimal Gland (9%), Lymphoma/Leukaemia (8%) and Rhabdomyosarcoma (6.3%). CONCLUSION: Frequencies of various orbital malignancies show geographical variation in both paediatric and adult population.