title: Computed tomography in planning and evaluating orbital surgery.
abstract: Computed tomography (CT) scanning of the orbit has enhanced the diagnostic and surgical armamentarium of the orbital surgeon, localizing the lesion in the retrobulbar spaces and separating those expanding masses confined to the orbit from those that invade from adjacent structures. It relates an orbital lesion to the surgical spaces, optic nerve and globe, and bony orbital walls, guiding the operator in his surgical approach. If the lesion has escaped from the orbit into the intracranial cavity, CT scanning can detect it. In this way, the surgical teams and surgical approaches are chosen. After surgery, CT scanning can detect a local recurrence of a tumor and note if it has extended intracranially. However, invasion of the optic canal may be better detected by polytomography. There is also some difficulty in distinguishing between a tumor recurrence and postoperative inflammation. Postoperative follow-up evaluation by serial CT scanning every six months is advocated to determine these changes.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D009915:Orbit / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D009918:Orbital Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed