A proposito di un particolare caso di tumore sotto-orbitario in età neonatale

Diagnosis and treatment of an infraorbitary tumor can be difficult. Although in Paediatrics most of the neoformations arising the head are benign (mainly inflammatory, angiomatous), the finding of malignant neoplasms in the infraorbitary area is not uncommon. Such tumors, unless promptly treated, evolute rapidly and are very malignant. On the other side, anatomy and function of the orbitoblepharo unit makes surgical treatment of moderately malignant lesions difficult and accompanied by severe sequelae. A multispecialistic approach is therefore mandatory, to assess the type of lesion and to opt for the most appropriate type of surgery and of reconstruction. We present a case of low malignancy astrocitoma of the optic nerve, presenting in a newborn and showing rapid growth. This little patient underwent complete excision of the neoplasm with sparing of the eye-ball: follow-up at six years shows good recuperation.