ORBITAL APEX SYNDROME

Course overview

ORBITAL SYNDROMES INCLUDE ORBITAL APEX, SUPERIOR ORBITAL FISSURE, AND CAVERNOUS SINUS SYNDROME. THE ORBITAL APEX CONSISTS OF THE SUPERIOR ORBITAL FISSURE AND THE OPTIC CANAL WITH ITS CONTENTS. THE ORBITAL APEX SYNDROME IS A COMPLEX MULTIPLE CRANIAL NERVE PATHOLOGY THAT RESULTS FROM THE INVOLVEMENT OF THE BONY ORBITAL APEX. THE CAUSES OF ORBITAL APEX SYNDROME INCLUDE INFECTIOUS, INFLAMMATORY, TRAUMATIC, IATROGENIC, HORMONAL, AND NEOPLASTIC PATHOLOGIES. THE PATIENT MAY PRESENT WITH REDUCED OR COMPLETE LOSS OF VISION WITH OPHTHALMOPLEGIA WHICH MAY BE ASSOCIATED WITH PAIN. A MULTIDISCIPLINARY APPROACH IS REQUIRED FOR ACCURATE DIAGNOSIS, IDENTIFYING THE UNDERLYING CAUSE, AND MANAGING THIS CONDITION. THIS ACTIVITY SUMMARIZES THE ANATOMY OF ORBITAL APEX AND VARIOUS ETIOLOGIES RESULTING IN ORBITAL APEX SYNDROME AND DESCRIBES THE CLINICAL EVALUATION, INVESTIGATIVE MODALITIES, AND MANAGEMENT OF ORBITAL APEX SYNDROME.