PURPOSE: In order to further assess the survival value of orbital exenteration in malignant orbital and periorbital tumors. METHODS: The charts of 44 patients exenterated for a neoplasm of the orbit or periorbit were reviewed in a retrospective study. RESULTS: The overall 4-year survival was 45%. 26 patients had free margins on histological examination and 24 patients had developed local recurrence or metastasis. Local recurrence or metastasis were significantly more common in the group with transected margins than in the group with free-margins (p= 0.01). Survival between the group of patients with local recurrence or metastasis and the group without local recurrence or metastasis showed statistically significant difference (p=0.0025). In contrast, survival between the group of patients with free margins and the group with transected margins did not show statistically significant difference (p=0.13). CONCLUSION: Surgical free margins section is a key element in successful cancer surgery but seems not the only prognosis variable.
PURPOSE: In order to further assess the survival value of orbital exenteration in malignant orbital and periorbital tumors. METHODS: The charts of 44 patients exenterated for a neoplasm of the orbit or periorbit were reviewed in a retrospective study. RESULTS: The overall 4-year survival was 45%. 26 patients had free margins on histological examination and 24 patients had developed local recurrence or metastasis. Local recurrence or metastasis were significantly more common in the group with transected margins than in the group with free-margins (p= 0.01). Survival between the group of patients with local recurrence or metastasis and the group without local recurrence or metastasis showed statistically significant difference (p=0.0025). In contrast, survival between the group of patients with free margins and the group with transected margins did not show statistically significant difference (p=0.13). CONCLUSION: Surgical free margins section is a key element in successful cancer surgery but seems not the only prognosis variable.