Fine Needle Aspiration Biopsy of Posterior Orbital Tumors.

Sa, Ho Seok; Oh, Dong Eun; Kim, Yoon Duck

Original Article

Journal of the Korean Ophthalmological Society 2005;46(9):1435-1440.
Published online September 30, 2005.

Fine Needle Aspiration Biopsy of Posterior Orbital Tumors.

Department of Ophthalmology, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Seoul, Korea. ydkim@smc.samsung.co.kr

세침 흡인 생검을 이용한 안와 후반부 종양의 진단

사호석,오동은,김윤덕

Department of Ophthalmology, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.

Correspondence: Ho-Seok Sa, M.D.

Abstract

PURPOSE
To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of fine-needle aspiration biopsies of mass lesions located in the posterior orbit. METHODS: Eight patients with mass lesions in the posterior orbit underwent fine-needle aspiration biopsy with 21-gauge needles using the freehand technique. RESULTS: Fine-needle aspiration biopsies were performed easily and safely. One patient developed subconjunctival hemorrhage following biopsy, but no major complications were observed. Diagnostic specimens were obtained in 6 patients (75%). Of these diagnostic cases, 3 were benign, and the other 3 were malignant. In 3 of 6 patients we performed surgical excisions, while in the others we performed radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy. In 2 patients (25%) the cytologic specimens were inadequate. CONCLUSIONS: Fine-needle aspiration biopsy is useful and safe in evaluating orbital mass lesions, especially when they are not surgically accessible due to their location in the posterior orbit.

Key Words: Fine-needle aspiration biopsy;Orbital tumor