title: The clinical study of lateral orbitotomy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To observe the effect of lateral orbitotomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Lateral orbitotomy for orbital tumors within muscle cone and area of lacrimal gland was performed for 70 cases by standard lateral orbitotomy, modified lateral orbitotomy and lateral orbitotomy combined with medial orbitotomy from July 1999 to April 2001 in Armed Police General Hospital.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The indications of standard lateral orbitotomy were suitable for the orbital tumor below the optic nerve (38 cases), and modified lateral orbitotomy (involving supra or infra orbital edge) for the orbital tumors above the optic nerve (28 cases), as well as lateral orbitotomy combined with medial orbitotomy for the orbital tumors surrounding the optic nerve (4 cases). There were total removal of orbital tumors in 63 cases, partial removal 4 cases, decompression 3 cases of Graves' diseases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The indications of lateral orbitotomy depend on the category, location and extent of orbital tumors. Lateral orbitotomy involving supra or infra orbital edge enlarges the operative field, and improves the successful rate of orbital removal.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Armed Police General Hospital, Beijing 100039, China (Email: xiaolihuawj@sina.com)
authors.forename: Lihua
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.forename: Xiaozhong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Hai
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tao
authors.forename: Haiyang
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D006111:Graves Disease; D006801:Humans; D007765:Lacrimal Apparatus; D009900:Optic Nerve; D009915:Orbit / Q000601:surgery; D009918:Orbital Neoplasms