Carcinoma Metastatic to the Eye and Orbit

Abstract

Of 227 cases of carcinoma metastatic to the eye or orbit, the predominant involvement was in the eye in 196 cases, the orbit in 28, and in the optic nerve in 3 cases. There was no preponderance of left-sided involvement. The primary sites accounting for the most cases were the breast (40%) and the lung (29%). Of the 217 patients regarding whom follow-up information was obtainable, 192 were known to have died of metastatic tumor. The median survival was 7.4 months from the time of ocular/orbital operation. Data are presented suggesting that, contrary to prevailing opinion, the most common malignant tumor of the eye is metastatic carcinoma, rather than primary uveal malignant melanoma.