Orbital Metastasis

Several types of cancer can spread (metastasize) to reach the tissues around the eye (orbit). The most common orbital metastases are cancers of the breast, lung, kidney or prostate gland. About 20% of patients who present with an orbital metastasis do not have a known primary cancer elsewhere. 

Orbital metastasis can produce many different findings like bulging eye, double vision, pain, or inability to move the eye. There are several tests that help to better delineate the extent of orbital metastasis and these include computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The final diagnosis is confirmed by biopsy. Sometimes the biopsy is by a needle and other times it requires surgery. Treatment of orbital metastasis usually involves chemotherapy or radiotherapy, but sometimes the entire tumor can be removed by surgery.