The Patterns of Lymphatic Metastasis and the Surgical Treatment of Malignant Tumors in the Periorbital Area

Jeong, Han Sin; Jung, Yong Gi; Lee, Hyeok Jun; Chung, Man Ki; Son, Young Ik; Baek, Chung Hwan

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
Malignant tumors rarely develop in the perioirbital area. Few studies have been reported on the patterns of lymphatic metastasis in these malignant tumors. The objectives of this study were to analyze the patterns of lymphatic metastasis in the malignant tumor arising in the periorbital area according to the primary site to assess the optimal surgical management of these tumors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of eight patients with malignant tumors in the periorbital area from January 1997 to June 2002. The mean duration of follow up was 25.8 months. Five patients had tumors in the medial wall of the perioirbital area: one in the lateral wall and two in the medial and the lateral wall. There were three squamous cell carcinomas, two adenoid cystic carcinomas, two sebaceous carcinomas and one basal cell carcinoma. RESULTS: The Lymphatic metastasis was observed in 4 of 8 patients who had relatively large size (> or =4 cm) or poorly differentiated tumor. Four of 7 tumors involving the medial wall of the periorbital area had the lymphatic spread to the periparotid lymph node and level II lymph node groups. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that more aggressive management of the parotid area should be necessary in the malignant tumors developing in the perioirbital area even in the medial portion.