Juvenile ossifying fibroma of the orbit.

Juvenile ossifying fibroma is an osseous tumor encased in a sclerotic shell. We report findings of juvenile ossifying fibroma in the orbit of a six-year-old boy. The bony aspects of this tumor may be suspected on physical examination. Magnetic resonance imaging was not helpful in the diagnosis of this fibroma. In fact, the technology was misleading because it did not define clearly the bony aspects of the tumor. In this case, the less costly computerized tomography revealed the bony encasement of the tumor and best defined the borders. With the trend in health care of cost containment, it may be that computerized tomography is the appropriate primary imaging study for some suspected orbital tumors based on thorough clinical examination.