Search

The angiomas of orbital walls are very rare. The authors report a case of cavernous angioma growing into the external orbital wall in a young girl. The surgical excision of this angioma after embolization of the arterial supply of the tumor permits a plastic reconstruction of the orbital wall with good result.

A composite review of 24 cases of embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma which is seen in fact to be the commonest orbital malignant tumour in children. In its evolution, most often very rapid, sometimes pseudo-inflammatory, this tumour presents many different histological appearances among which the alveolar form and the botryoidal form should be particularly distinguished. Although it was for a long time confused with reticulosarcoma the tumour is in fact derived from primitive undifferentiated mesenchymal cells and can therefore in this sense be considered as a blastoma. Since the prognosis is grave and its treatment often disappointing, it should in many cases combine surgery with radiotherapy and polychemotherapy.

A description of a case of Vogt-Valerio corneal dystrophy of spontaneous evolution. The authors studied the histology and ultrastructure of the anterior layers of the cornea removed during keratoplasty. They analysed the lesions found at the level of the epithelium especially the calcific impregnation of Bowman's membrane and the anterior stoma. They suggest that there is localised calcification layed down during the primitive development of the connective tissue in Bowmann's membrane and of the connective tissue of the anterior cornea.

A description of a non-excretory myeloma located in the orbit. The authors stress the importance of immunofluorescent and ultra-structural studies in the identification of these tumours. They discuss the relationship between multiple myeloma and extra-medullary plasmocytoma and raise the possibility of modes of transmission.

The histological appearance of an oncocytoma of the caruncle is reported, and the authors review the principle ocular sites for this rare and inusual tumour. They discuss the various hypotheses which have been advanced on the subject of their origin, particularly following ultrastructural findings which show chiefly a multiplication in the number of mitochondria which explains the granular appearance of the oncocytes on light microscopy.

The authors review and study, especially from the anatomo-pathological aspect, the different tumours and pseudo-tumoural dysplasias of the orbital bones taken from the collection of the Laboratory of Ocular Pathological Anatomy of the Hotel-Dieu in Paris. They demonstrate the particular frequency of osteomas and fibrous dysplasias and discuss the orbital predisposition of giant cell tumours of bone. Finally they underline the existence of vascular bone tumours and aneurysmal cysts.