Endoscopic orbital surgery is a rapidly growing field and many studies have proven the efficacy of the exclusive endoscopic approach for management of benign and malignant intraorbital tumors.1–4 As with any nascent field, new tools are required to assist with surgical planning and to ascertain the limits of tumor resectability. While algorithms have been proposed to assist in the choice of approach,5 these studies have relied on traditional tri-planar imaging to determine tumor morphology and lateral extension. However, the compact, conal structure of the orbital apex often obscures the precise relationship between the optic nerve and the tumor mass which, in turn, has led to conservative recommendations regarding the lateral extent of tumor resectability. Furthermore, the complex shape of the tumor as it insinuates through the apical neurovascular structures can lead to significant errors in estimation of tumor volume by tri-planar measurement. This feature becomes particularly important when trying to assess whether a lesion has been fully resected based on gross inspection of the specimen.

3-Dimensional reconstruction and analysis of planar images has become increasingly useful thanks to the proliferation of third party Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) viewing software such as OsiriX (Pixmeo Geneva, Switzerland). These reconstructions are able to overcome the described limitations of planar imaging of the orbital apex as the intimate relationship between the optic nerve and the lesion can be visualized from the optic chiasm and the globe. The purpose of this study was to therefore determine whether 3-dimensional reconstruction could be used to create a precise boundary to describe the lateral limit of endoscopic tumor resectability and to accurately characterize the volume of representative orbital lesions.

Approval of this study was obtained through the Human Studies Committee – Institutional Review Board (Protocol n° 754915-8 (15-068H)). Four patients with primary orbital tumors representative of distinct tumor epicenters who underwent endoscopic intraorbital surgery between January 2014 and May 2015 were selected. Computed tomography (CT) scans (100kV tube voltage, 600–800mAs intensity without modulation, and temporal resolution 125–625ms) were acquired for each patient and imported in OsiriX Software x6.5.2 32-bit. The region-of-interest (ROI) tool was used to identify the optic nerve (ON), extraocular muscles and tumor in successive axial cuts. Three-dimensional volume rendering was used to create a reconstruction of the relationship between the bony orbit, tumor and ON and also to calculate the tumor volume.

An oblique parasagittal line was applied along the long axis of the ON dividing it into medial and lateral halves along its entire length. A 2-dimensional plane was then propagated between the contralateral nare and the line describing the long axis of the ON. This plane, termed the plane of resectability (POR), reflects the trajectory of a trans-septal approach to the orbit. According to our criteria, any tumor volume falling medial to the ON and/or inferior to the POR was considered theoretically resectable regardless of its lateral extent. This is due to the fact that the dissection can proceed inferior the ON without requiring nerve retraction. Actual tumor volumes from the representative patients were then superimposed over this plane and correlated with surgical outcomes.

Of the four patients studied, the relationship between the optic nerve and tumor volume could be clearly delineated following 3-dimensional reconstruction (Fig. 1). Three patients were deemed resectable according to our imaging criteria and underwent successful endoscopic gross total resection intraoperative (Table 1). Patients 2 and 3 had tumor volumes, which extended lateral to the optic nerve but remained inferior to the POR. Patient 4 was found to have a tumor volume which extended both lateral to the ON and superior to the POR (Fig. 2). This patient was deemed unresectable and underwent debulking and biopsy which was consistent with a solitary fibrous tumor.

Figure 1.

Comparison of T1-weighted MRI (A, D, G) with CT scan (B, E, H) and with 3D rendered (C, F, I) of Patient 1 with a massive orbital tumor. Note how the three-dimensional rendering gives depth to the image and improves the distinction between the ON (N) and orbital Tumor (T) which cannot be fully distinguished on either CT or MRI.

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Figure 2.

3D rendered orbital tumors of Patients 3 (A, B, C) and 4 (D, E, F). Line 1 represents the long axis of the Optic Nerve (N) while Line 2 represents the plane of resectability. Note how these lines divide the tumor into 3 zones (T1) easily resectable, (T2) resectable and (T3) unresectable.

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The 3-dimensional reconstruction software was significantly more accurate in predicting the gross tumor volume than traditional triplanar calculations (Fig. 3). The mean (±standard deviation) percent triplanar overestimation of the tumor volume was 355.34±145.38% vs. 127.02±22.72% (p=0.03, Student's t-test) using 3-dimensional rendering.

Figure 3.

Comparison between resected orbital tumor and the 3-dimensional rendered tumor in Patient 2 demonstrating a close concordance in tumor size and morphology. Note in panel B that the different zones of the tumor were identified: (T1-green) easily resected tumor, (T2-purple) resectable tumor.

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The choice of surgical approach when addressing an intraorbital lesion depends on many factors including anticipated pathology, size, morphology, and location. Traditional teaching has held that endoscopic approaches to the orbit must be restricted to lesions, which remain medial to the optic nerve. As the field of endoscopic orbital surgery expands, these restrictions continue to be challenged as new diagnostic and surgical approaches are developed.6

Compartmentalization of the intraconal space based on its fixed neurovascular structures may help the surgeon to safely remove intraorbital lesions.7 However, preoperative visualization of the discreet relationship between the tumor and the optic nerve along its entire length is exceedingly difficult due to the compact neuroanatomy of the orbital apex. The advent of 3-dimensional reconstructive software enables the end user to easily import traditional triplanar imaging studies and create an accurate reconstruction of the relationship between the lesion, the ON, and any other relevant bony and muscular orbital structures.

Our findings demonstrate that these reconstructions may also be used to more precisely define the lateral limits of endoscopic approaches.5,8 By taking into account the oblique pathway of the optic nerve and the trajectory of a transseptal approach, we have defined a novel safe plane of resection. Consequently, the criteria for endoscopic resection may be expanded to include any tumor medial to the optic nerve and/or inferior to the POR, regardless of its lateral extent.

Furthermore, the reconstructive software described herein may be used to faithfully reconstruct the morphology and volume of the orbital tumor. This feature becomes significantly important when assessing the completeness of the resection of the gross specimen. By comparing the intraoperative specimen to the preoperative reconstruction, the surgeon may more readily be able to determine whether the tumor was completely resected. This is extremely valuable in preventing the need for further surgical exploration thereby reducing the operative time, the potential for further neurovascular injury, and the requirement of intraoperative or perioperative imaging.

Preoperative 3-dimensional reconstruction of orbital tumors represents a valuable diagnostic technique to evaluate the relationship between the tumor and the optic nerve as well as accurately determine the tumor volume and morphology. Using this technique, we have defined a novel plane of resectability, termed the “POR”, which challenges the conventional teaching that tumors lateral to the optic nerve should not be approached endoscopically. Based on our findings, the criteria for an endoscopic approach to the orbit can be expanded to lesions, which lie medial to the optic nerve and/or are inferior to the plane of resectability regardless of their lateral extent.

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.