Purpose To analyze the clinical features, histopathologic classfication and frequencies of various types of recurrent orbital space-occupying lesions.
Materials and methods A retrospective study was carried out for 253 consecutive patients with recurrent orbital space-occupying lesions treated by surgical excision in our institute from January 2009 to December 2010.
Results The patients included 123 males and 130 females aged 2 to 78 years (mean, 36.2 years), the last recurrence interval after operation ranged from 1 month to 40 years(median, 4.75 years). 159(62.8%) cases, 65(25.7%) cases, 20(7.9%) cases, 8(3.2%) cases and 1(0.4%) case had previously experienced once, twice, three, four and six times of surgeries, respectively. Among them, 29(11.5%) cases had recurred 3 times or over, and 37(14.6%) cases got recurrence in 10 or more years postoperatively. Most of the patients with local recurrence presented with various clinical manifestations, while 31(12.3%) cases were symptom-free. Categories of these recurrent orbital lesions after operation were as follows: lacrimal gland tumours, 65(25.7%) cases; vasogenic diseases, 54(21.3%) cases; neurogenic tumors, 42(16.6%) cases; secondary tumors, 24(9.5%) cases; orbital inflammation, 21(8.3%) cases; myogenic tumors, 14(5.5%) cases; fibrous and adipose tumors, 12(4.7%) cases; Lympho-hematopoietic tumors, 7(2.8%) cases; bone or cartilage tumors, 7(2.8%) cases; orbital cysts, 6(2.4%) cases; and indefinitely differentiated tumor, 1(0.4%) case. The 10 top histopathologic diagnoses were lacrimal gland pleomorphic adenoma, hemangiolymphangioma, lacrimal gland adenoid cystic carcinoma, meningioma, inflammatory pseudotumor, neurofibroma, sebaceous gland carcinoma, vascular malformation, rhabdomyosarcoma and hemangioma.
Conclusions The variety of recurrent orbital lesions after operation includes mainly tumours except for vascular malformation and orbital inflammatory lesions. Lacrimal gland epithelial tumour is most prone to relapse after resection, early and longer terms of postoperative follow-up are of utmost importance.