AIM: To investigate the choice of surgical approach, therapeutic effect and complications of orbital cavernous hemangioma(OCH)in different positions of orbit.

METHODS: The clinical data of 128 patients of 128 eyes with OCH whose were surgically removed and pathologically diagnosed in the department of ophthalmology of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Air Force Military Medical University from January 2016 to August 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. The position of OCH in the orbit was determined by preoperative imaging examination(CT/MRI), so as to select different surgical approaches and analyze the postoperative curative effect and the incidence of complications.

RESULTS: The location of OCH in the orbit: 82 eyes in the muscle cone and 46 eyes outside the muscle cone. According to the quadrant of the orbit where the tumor was located, there were 24 eyes in the upper-outer quadrant, 38 eyes in the lower-outer quadrant, 28 eyes in the upper-inner quadrant, 12 eyes in the lower-inner quadrant, and 26 eyes the intraconal central space. The selection of surgical approach: 1)OCH in the muscle cone: conjunctival approach surgery in 53 eyes, lateral orbital approach surgery in 22 eyes, lateral combined medial conjunctiva orbital approach surgery in 5 eyes, skin approach surgery in 1 eye, transnasal approach under nasal endoscope surgery in 1 eye; 2)OCH outside the muscle cone: skin approach in 29 eyes, conjunctival approach in 12 eyes and lateral orbital approach in 5 eyes. Postoperative efficacy: except for 1 eye of postoperative tumor residue, the other 127 eyes were completely removed. Postoperative complications: 1)Ocular motility disorder: 16 eyes, including conjunctival approach surgery in 11 eyes, lateral orbital approach surgery in 4 eyes, lateral combined medial conjunctiva orbital approach surgery in 1 eye; 2)Visual acuity decreased in 9 eyes: conjunctival approach surgery in 3 eyes, lateral orbital approach surgery in 6 eyes; 3)Mydriasis occurred in 9 eyes, including 4 eyes via conjunctival approach surgery and 5 eyes via lateral orbital approach surgery; 4)Intraorbital hemorrhage occurred in 3 eyes: all occurred through conjunctival approach surgery; 5)Visual acuity was lost in 2 eyes, including conjunctival approach surgery in 1 eye and lateral orbital opening approach surgery in 1 eye; 6)There were 2 eyes of ptosis, including conjunctival approach surgery in 1 case and skin approach surgery in 1 eye; 7)Tumor residue occurred in 1 eye: multiple intraorbital tumors were treated by lateral orbital approach surgery.

CONCLUSION: The accurate location of OCH combined with imaging examination and the selection of appropriate surgical approaches according to different locations can successfully remove the tumor and reduce the incidence of complications.