title: Benefit of surgery in presence of orbital metastasis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Malignant tumors metastatic to the orbit are rare and only about 5% of orbital tumors are metastasis. We report on orbital surgery in a patient with orbital metastasis from small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC).
  
  
  METHODS
  A 75-year-old man complained of pain in the left orbital region and proptosis. Head CT scan showed a left retrobulbar mass compressing the optical nerve. Chest and body CT scans showed a round-shaped mass at the apex of the left inferior lobule of the lung and widespread nodal involvement.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A surgical intervention on the left orbit through a lateral approach was performed, with complete removal of the mass. Histology showed features of a non-anaplastic SCLC. A complete restoration of visual acuity was obtained
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A debulking orbital surgery, in order to relieve optic nerve compression, should be offered to the patients with orbital metastasis.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ulivieri
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Toninelli
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Giorgio
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D009918:Orbital Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery*; D011859:Radiography; D055752:Small Cell Lung Carcinoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery*